Winifred Byanyima, born on January 13, 1959, in Mbarara, Uganda, is a Ugandan aeronautical engineer, politician, human rights advocate, feminist, and diplomat. She has served as the Executive Director of UNAIDS since November 2019, where she concurrently holds the rank of United Nations Under-Secretary-General.
Winnie Byanyima Profile
| Name | Winnie Byanyima |
| Real Name | Winifred Byanyima |
| Date of Birth | 13 January 1959 |
| Age | 65 years |
| Nationality | Ugandan |
| Occupation | Aeronautical Engineer, and Politician |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Net Worth | $2 Million |
| Copied from | contents101.com |
Educational Background
Byanyima attended Mount Saint Mary’s College Namagunga before becoming the first Ugandan woman to graduate as an aeronautical engineer from the University of Manchester. She later earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering with a specialization in energy conservation from Cranfield University.
Career
Byanyima began her career as a flight engineer with Uganda Airlines. She joined the armed rebellion led by Yoweri Museveni during the 1981–1986 Ugandan Bush War, where she served as a combatant alongside her future husband, Kizza Besigye. From 2013 to 2019, Byanyima was the Executive Director of Oxfam International, where she championed social justice and economic equality on a global stage.
In August 2019, she was appointed Executive Director of UNAIDS, taking up the role in November that year. She also serves on several advisory bodies, including the World Bank Group’s Advisory Council on Gender and Development and the Commission for Universal Health at Chatham House.
Controversies
Byanyima has been vocal about global inequality, frequently advocating for economic reforms at international forums such as the World Economic Forum. During her tenure at Oxfam, some of the charity’s inequality data faced criticism from economists for methodological reasons.
In her personal life, Byanyima has publicly called out Uganda’s government over the arrest and detention of her husband, Kizza Besigye, a prominent opposition leader.
Winnie Byanyima Social Media Handle
https://ch.linkedin.com/in/winniebyanyima
Personal Life
Byanyima married Kizza Besigye, a former Ugandan presidential candidate and opposition leader, on July 7, 1999. The couple has one son, Anselm. While her career has taken her to the international stage, Byanyima remains connected to Uganda’s political landscape through her association with the Forum for Democratic Change.
Winnie Byanyima Net Worth
Byanyima’s net worth is estimated to be around $2 Million.