Winnie Byanyima, a Ugandan aeronautical engineer, politician, human rights activist and diplomat, has carved an extraordinary path from her roots in Mbarara District to the global stage as the Executive Director of UNAIDS.
Known for her fierce advocacy for social justice, gender equality, and health as a human right, Byanyima’s life story is one of resilience, ambition and principled leadership.
In this article, WoK takes a look at Byanyima whose journey continues to inspire countless individuals, particularly women in Africa and beyond.
Education
Born on January 13, 1959, in Mbarara, Uganda, to Boniface Byanyima, a prominent Democratic Party leader, and Gertrude Byanyima, a schoolteacher, Winnie grew up in a household that valued education.
She attended Mount Saint Mary’s College Namagunga in Mukono District before pursuing higher studies abroad.
At the University of Manchester, she earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering, becoming the first Ugandan woman to achieve this milestone.
She later obtained a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, specializing in energy conservation, from Cranfield University in the UK.
Early career
Byanyima’s early career began at Uganda Airlines, where she worked as a flight engineer—a role that showcased her technical prowess.
However, her life took a dramatic turn in the early 1980s when Yoweri Museveni, now Uganda’s long-serving president, launched the 1981–1986 Ugandan Bush War against Milton Obote’s regime.
Abandoning her job, Byanyima joined the National Resistance Army (NRA) rebellion, a decision influenced by her close ties to Museveni.
Raised together in the Byanyima household, where her family funded Museveni’s education, their bond was deep—though it would later fray.
During the war, she fought alongside Museveni and her future husband, Kizza Besigye, demonstrating her commitment to Uganda’s liberation.
Later career
After the NRA’s victory in 1986, Byanyima transitioned into diplomacy and politics.
She served as Uganda’s ambassador to France from 1989 to 1994, sharpening her skills on the international stage.
Returning to Uganda, she entered politics, winning the Mbarara Municipality parliamentary seat in 1994 and advocating for women’s rights during the drafting of the 1995 Constitution.
She founded the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE), cementing her legacy as a champion of gender equality.
Her career soared globally in the 2000s. From 2006, she directed the Gender Team at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), focusing on development policy.
In 2013, she became the Executive Director of Oxfam International, a role she held until 2019, where she tackled inequality and co-chaired the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2015.
Since November 2019, Byanyima has led UNAIDS as its Executive Director and a UN Under-Secretary-General, driving efforts to end the AIDS pandemic by 2030.
Her tenure has been marked by calls for equitable access to medicines, including her recent push at the 2024 International AIDS Conference for generic licensing of HIV treatments.
Personal life
July 7, 1999, Byanyima married Kizza Besigye, a former NRA comrade and later a leading opposition figure as the head of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
The couple has one son, Anselm, born from a union that has weathered significant political turbulence.
Besigye’s repeated presidential challenges against Museveni—most recently marked by his 2024 arrest and treason charges—have thrust Byanyima into the spotlight as a steadfast supporter, even as she balances her global responsibilities.
Though she remains an FDC member, her partisan involvement has waned since becoming a diplomat in 2004.
Relationship with Yoweri Museveni
In a recent interview, Byanyima spoke about this past relationship.
She acknowledged that it was a part of her life that occurred, and she does not wish to deny it.
Additionally, she mentioned that Museveni was someone she had seen frequently as a visitor in her home, and whatever transpired between them is something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
“It was a normal relationship with President Museveni. It had some challenges, and I left it, but it is not relevant to the political discussion,” she said.
Museveni’s son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba responded to Byanyima’s statement, accusing her of trying to wreck their home and that Museveni kicked her out.
“There was nothing normal about your relationship with my father. You found a happy home and tried to wreck it. You’re a disaster of a woman,” he said.
Byanyima warned Muhoozi to go slow about her past relationship with his father, warning that she may need to provide hard evidence to prove her facts.
“There is a more complex history between your father and I that we have both chosen to move past with mutual respect. However, if you continue to present a false narrative, I may need to provide hard evidence of the facts. I prefer to maintain our dignified approach, but that choice remains yours. I consider this matter closed,” she responded.
