CABINET RESHUFFLE: Who is Denis Hamson Obua?

President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday reshuffled his Cabinet Ministers, after a long wait, and among the new faces is the youthful Ajuri county Member of Parliament, Denis Hamson Obua.

At 39 years, Obua has already served as Commissioner of Parliament, Chairperson of the Science and Technology Committee, Spokesperson Commonwealth Youth Forum and voted best performing MP in 2010 at 100% rating, among others.

Obua, the new State Minister of Education in charge of Sports, was born on February 6^th 1980 in Amindit village, Awori Parish, Abako Sub County, Ajuri County, Alebtong district in northern Uganda. Alebtong is the home of great names like John Akiibua, first Olympic Gold Medalist and Field Marshal John Okello, the” Zanzibar conqueror.”

He did his primary living examination from Inomo Primary School in 1993 and headed to Lango College Lira where he completed O and A level in 1997 and 1999 respectively.

Obua, a great Manchester United fan and currently Parliamentary Football Club Captain, led the students of Lira as District Chairman Uganda National Students Association. He later became the chairman Youth Council and joined the National Executive Council as Secretary of Finance.

In 2005, while in Lango, the then Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya spotted an eloquent Denis Obua, after presenting a paper and immediately asked him to report to Kampala and be given a job at State House. Obua was made the Assistant Private Secretary and Senior Clerk (Legal Duties) of the Vice President in charge of youth.

In 2006 the youths of Northern Uganda entrusted their votes to Obua as the Youth Member of Parliament. Only three years into his term, MPs from across the country elected Obua the Commissioner of Parliament. He made history as the youngest Commissioner at 29 years.

In 2011 his home people of the newly created Ajuri County elected him as their MP, now serving his 3^rd uninterrupted term.

Besides serving as Commissioner, Obua also worked as the chairperson of committee science and technology and is among the brains behind the creation of Ministry of Science and Technology.

He also served as the Spokesman of National Resistance Movement party. More importantly in 2007 when  Uganda hosted the commonwealth conference, he was identified and chosen by the entire fraternity as a member of international planning committee where he got the rare opportunity to have dinner with her Majesty the Queen of England at the Buckingham palace.

In 2010, a survey by the African Leadership Institute declared Obua as the best performing MP in the plenary with 100% rating.

Obua comes from the sports family and the celebrated clan of Atek Okwero We that has produced the likes of late John Akii Bua, late Denis Obua and former Cranes striker David Obua.

He is an eminent sports advocate and lobbyist who has moved over 10 motions in Parliament in support of Uganda Cranes and She Cranes.