Jessica Rose Epel Alupo, commonly known as Jessica Alupo, is a Ugandan politician who is the ninth and current vice president of Uganda since 2021. She is also an

educator A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. w ...

, and former military officer. She previously served in the cabinet of Uganda as minister of education between 2011 and 2016. She is also an elected member of parliament as Katakwi District's women's representative.

Background and education

She was born in Katakwi District on 23 May 1974. She attended Apuuton Primary School. She then attended Kangole Girls School for her O-Level studies. For her A-Level education, she studied at Ngora High School. Alupo trained as a high school canteen attendant before she underwent the officer cadet course at the Uganda Junior Staff College in Jinja. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and linguistics, obtained in 1997 from

Makerere University Makerere University (; Mak) is Uganda's largest and oldest institution of higher learning, first established as a technical school in 1922, and the oldest currently active university in East Africa. It became an independent national university in ...

. Her first master's degree, is the Master of Arts in international relations and diplomacy, was also obtained from

in 2008. She also holds a Diploma in public administration and management, obtained in 2008 from the Uganda Management Institute (UMI). Her second master's degree is the Masters in public administration and management, obtained in 2009, also from

Work experience

Over the years, she has been employed in various capacities, including: * As a teacher at the Katakwi High School in the town of Katakwi, Katakwi District, Eastern Region of Uganda * As an instructor at the ''Uganda Urban Warfare Training School'', Singo,

Nakaseke District Nakaseke District is a Districts of Uganda, district in Central Region, Uganda, Central Uganda. It is named after Nakaseke, the largest town in the district. However, the district headquarters are located at Butalangu. Location Nakaseke District ...

, Central Region of

Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...

* As an intelligence officer at the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence in

Kampala Kampala (, ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,875,834 (2024) and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kampala, Kawempe Division, Kawempe, Makindy ...

, Uganda's capital city. In 2001, she entered politics as a candidate for the Katakwi District women's representative. She ran on the ticket of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) political party. She won and was re-elected in 2006. In 2009, she was appointed as the state minister for youth and children's affairs. In 2011, she was re-elected to her parliamentary constituency. In the cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, she was promoted to the post of Minister of Education and Sports. She replaced Namirembe Bitamazire, who was dropped from the cabinet.

Personal life

Alupo is married to Innocent Tukashaba. She is reported to enjoy reading, community mobilization, and travel.

References

External links

Website of the Parliament of UgandaWebsite of the Uganda Ministry of Education And Sports
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alupo, Jessica 1974 births Living people 21st-century Ugandan women politicians Government ministers of Uganda Independent politicians in Uganda Teso people Makerere University alumni Politicians from Eastern Region, Uganda People from Katakwi District People from Teso sub-region Uganda Management Institute alumni Ugandan military personnel Vice presidents of Uganda Women government ministers of Uganda Women members of the Parliament of Uganda Women vice presidents in Africa Women's education in Uganda Members of the 8th Parliament of Uganda Members of the 9th Parliament of Uganda Members of the 11th Parliament of Uganda Teso women