{{Short description|Ugandan politician & businesswoman}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = | image = Beti Kamya.jpg | image_size = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1955|11|30}} | birth_place = Nakuru, Kenya | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = Makerere University<br/> {{small|(Bachelor of Commerce)}} | education = McKay Memorial School, Kampala <br /> Saint Hellen's Primary School <br /> Wanyange Girls' School <br /> Kings College Budo | occupation = Businesswoman and politician | years_active = 1988 - present | citizenship = Uganda | known_for = Politics | political_party = National Resistance Movement | networth = | title = Uganda's Inspector General of Government (IGG) | spouse = {{Plainlist | * {{marriage|Spencer Turwomwe ||2003|end=died}}}} | children = 6 }}
'''Beti Olive Namisango Kamya-Turomwe''' (born 30 November 1955), also known as '''Beti Kamya''' ({{audio|LUG-Betty-Kamya.ogg|pronunciation}}), is a businesswoman and politician in Uganda. She was the Inspector General of Government in Uganda.<ref name="IggR">{{cite web| url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/ramathan-ggoobi-new-ministry-of-finance-ps-kamya-appointed-igg-3474912 | title=Ramathan Ggoobi is the new Ministry of Finance PS, Kamya appointed IGG |work=Daily Monitor | date=16 July 2021 | author=Job Bwire |access-date=16 July 2021 |location=Kampala, Uganda}}</ref>
== Background == Previously, from December 2019 until May 2021, she was the Cabinet Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, in the Cabinet of Uganda.<ref name="AppR">{{cite web|url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Museveni-shuffles-Cabinet-drops-Muloni-Nadduli-Ssekandi/688334-5386130-139sq4lz/index.html |title=Museveni Shuffles Cabinet, Drops Muloni, Appoints Magyezi |date=14 December 2019 |access-date=27 January 2020 |newspaper=Daily Monitor |author=Monitor Reporter |place=Kampala}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cabinet Secretariat: The Republic of Uganda |work=Uganda Cabinet Secretariat |author=Uganda Cabinet Secretariat | url=http://www.cabinetsecretariat.go.ug/data/staffdetails/29/Hon.%20Beti%20Kamya.html |access-date=3 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514061119/http://www.cabinetsecretariat.go.ug/data/staffdetails/29/Hon.%20Beti%20Kamya.html |archive-date=14 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Hon Minister Betty Namisango Kamya|url=http://mlhud.lca.ug/staff/hon-minister-betty-namisango-kamya/|access-date=2021-04-03|website=Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Citation|title=Betty Amongi hands over office to Beti Kamya| date=7 January 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGa-BcziNpw|language=en|access-date=2021-04-03}}</ref>
Before that, from 6 June 2016 until 14 December 2019, she served as the Minister for Kampala Capital City Authority in Uganda's cabinet.<ref>{{cite web|date=6 June 2016|newspaper=Daily Monitor|url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/blob/view/-/3235304/data/1345443/-/3o16hn/-/Museveni%2527s+cabinet.pdf|title=Museveni's new cabinet list At 6 June 2016|access-date=6 June 2016|author=Uganda State House|location=Entebbe|archive-date=7 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007121926/http://www.monitor.co.ug/blob/view/-/3235304/data/1345443/-/3o16hn/-/Museveni%27s+cabinet.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
She is the founder and president of the Uganda Federal Alliance (UFA), one of the registered political parties in the country.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Can-Beti-Kamya-change-Uganda-this-time-round/-/2558/2019792/-/6qfehoz/-/index.html | title=Can Beti Kamya Change Uganda This Time Around?|date=5 October 2013 | access-date=1 January 2015 | first=Michael | last=Wakabi | newspaper=The EastAfrican |location=Nairobi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date=24 July 2017 | url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201511091746.html | title=Uganda: Beti Kamya Didn't Expect to Win, but She Made Her Point |date=9 November 2015| newspaper=The Observer (Uganda) via AllAfrica.com| author=Benon Herbert Oluka |location=Kampala}}</ref> She was a candidate in the 2011 Ugandan presidential elections, coming in fifth with 52,782 votes. She previously served as the Member of Parliament representing Lubaga North Constituency on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket from 2006 until 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/658667-i-can-be-vp-in-museveni-s-cabinet-beti-kamya.html | title=I Can Be VP In Museveni's Cabinet – Beti Kamya | date=13 August 2014 | first=David | last=Lumu | newspaper=New Vision (Kampala)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27625:i-will-be-back-as-mp-beti-kamya&catid=53:interview&Itemid=67 | title=I Will Be Back As MP – Beti Kamya | date=22 September 2013 | first=Edward | last=Ssekika | access-date=1 January 2015 | newspaper=The Observer (Uganda)}}</ref>
Kamya joined the National Resistance Movement party<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kamya explains why she joined NRM party|url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/kamya-explains-why-she-joined-nrm-party-1878588|access-date=2021-04-03|website=Daily Monitor|date=19 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref> and in 2020 she participated in the flag bearer elections for Lubaga North constituency as a candidate.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minister Kamya, Tindyebwa lock horns in Rubaga North|url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/minister-kamya-tindyebwa-lock-horns-in-rubaga-north-1915966|access-date=2021-04-03|website=Daily Monitor|date=14 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref> She beat Brian Tindyebwa and Dr. Isaac Lwanga to become the official NRM flag bearer in the 2021 presidential and parliamentary elections.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-04|title=Minister Beti Kamya wins Lubaga North NRM elections|url=https://www.independent.co.ug/minister-beti-kamya-wins-lubaga-north-nrm-elections/|access-date=2021-04-03|website=The Independent Uganda|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=URN|title=Beti Kamya, Margaret Zziwa win in NRM primaries|url=https://observer.ug/news/headlines/66446-beti-kamya-margaret-zziwa-win-in-nrm-primaries|access-date=2021-04-03|website=The Observer - Uganda|date=5 September 2020 |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=How NRM converts performed in party primaries|url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/how-nrm-converts-performed-in-party-primaries-1933500|access-date=2021-04-03|website=Daily Monitor|date=6 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-04|title=Betty Kamya Defeats Tindyebwa, Others in Rubaga North NRM Primaries|url=https://chimpreports.com/betty-kamya-defeats-tindyebwa-others-in-rubaga-north-nrm-primaries/|access-date=2021-04-03|website=ChimpReports|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Writer|first=TRACY TEDDY NAYIGA {{!}} PML Daily Staff|date=2020-09-04|title=Minister Beti Kamya wins NRM flag for Rubaga North with 90%|url=https://www.pmldaily.com/news/politics/2020/09/minister-beti-kamya-wins-nrm-flag-for-rubaga-north-with-90.html|access-date=2021-04-03|website=PML Daily|language=en-US}}</ref>
In the 2021 general elections, Kamya lost the Lubaga North parliamentary election to Ababaker Kawalya of the National Unity Platform (NUP) a party under the chairmanship of Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shabomwe|first=Ronard|date=2021-01-20|title=Minister Kamya defeated at her home polling station|url=https://eagle.co.ug/2021/01/20/minister-kamya-defeated-at-her-home-polling-station.html|access-date=2021-04-03|website=Eagle Online|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kibuule, Rukutana, Lokodo join other Ministers booted out of parliament|url=https://www.ntv.co.ug/ug/news/national/kibuule-rukutana-lokodo-join-other-ministers-booted-out-of-parliament-3259130|access-date=2021-04-03|website=NTV Uganda|date=16 January 2021|language=en|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418183752/https://www.ntv.co.ug/ug/news/national/kibuule-rukutana-lokodo-join-other-ministers-booted-out-of-parliament-3259130|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=mikessegawa|date=2021-03-23|title=Do these 7 Ugandan politicians have any party allegiances?|url=https://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210323/110831/do-these-7-ugandan-politicians-have-any-party-allegiances.html|access-date=2021-04-03|website=Watchdog Uganda|language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Beti Kamya was born in Nakuru, Kenya on 30 November 1955 to George Wilson Kamya,<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/Life/Mulumba-one-men--swag--who-ruled-1970s/689856-4027134-2gwrga/index.html |access-date=24 July 2017 | date=24 July 2017 |title=Mulumba: One of the men of 'swag' who ruled the 1970s | first=Robert |last=Mugagga |newspaper=Daily Monitor |location=Kampala}}</ref> a Ugandan, and Margaret Wairimu Kamya, a Kenyan. Beti was the fourth born of nine children. In 1961, when Beti was six years old, the family relocated to Uganda.<ref name="Profile">{{cite web |location=Kampala |url=http://www.elections.co.ug/new-vision/election/1000094/beti-olive-kamya-namisango |title=Profile of Beti Olive Namisango Kamya |date=1 August 2015 |access-date=24 July 2017 |newspaper=New Vision |author=Administrator |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727171520/http://www.elections.co.ug/new-vision/election/1000094/beti-olive-kamya-namisango |archive-date=27 July 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
She attended McKay Memorial School in Kampala and Saint Hellen's Primary School in Western Uganda for her elementary schooling. She then attended Wanyange Girls' School for her O-Level education and Kings College Budo for her A-Level education. She studied at Makerere University, the oldest and largest public university in the country, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in marketing.<ref name="Profile"/>
==Career ==
=== Beginnings === In the mid 1980s, BetiiKamya ned Uganda Leather and Tanning Industries Limited in Jinja in the sales department, working there until 1988. She then joined Nyanza Textiles Industries Limited, working there as a sales executive until 1992. She then relocated to Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city with her husband.
From 1996 until 1999, she worked as the marketing manager at Uganda Breweries Limited in Port Bell, a Kampala suburb. From 1999 until 2004, she was the executive director of the [http://uweczoo.org/ Uganda Wildlife Education Centre] (UWEC) in Entebbe, about {{convert|36|km|mi}}, by road, south of Kampala on the northern shores of Lake Victoria.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=6 June 2016 |date=6 June 2016|author=GFC | publisher=Globefeed.com (GFC)| title=Distance between Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, Entebbe, Central Region, Uganda and Uganda Post Office, Kampala Road, Kampala, Central Region, Uganda | url=http://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Uganda_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Uganda%20Wildlife%20Education%20Centre%2C%20Entebbe%2C%20Central%20Region%2C%20Uganda&toplace=Uganda%20Post%20Office%2C%20Kampala%20Road%2C%20Kampala%2C%20Central%20Region%2C%20Uganda%2C&dt1=ChIJRcKhIpGGfRcRJqknVUmj8UI&dt2=ChIJQ6vCjIC8fRcRO0xjOZ4-3Qc}}</ref>
Between 2001 and 2004, while still at UWEC, she became an official in the political pressure group Reform, Agenda, the precursor of the FDC political party. From 2005 until 2010, she served as the special envoy of the FDC president Kizza Besigye. She also served as the elected member of parliament for Lubaga North Constituency on the FDC ticket. In January 2010, she quit the FDC and formed the UFA, becoming its first president.<ref name="Profile"/>
=== Appointment to cabinet === On 6 June 2016, Betty Kamyas named as the new Minister for Kampala Capital City Authority in the new Cabinet announced that day.<ref>{{cite web|date=6 June 2016 | url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/314964607/New-Cabinet |title=Uganda's New Cabinet As At 6 June 2016 |access-date=6 June 2016 |publisher=Scribd.com |author=Uganda State House}}</ref> In a cabinet reshuffle on 14 December 2019, she was named the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, switching dockets with Betty Amongi, who took over at Kampala Capital City Authority.<ref name="AppR" />
'''Former IGG'''
As of 7 October 2025, Betty Kamya has been replaced with High Court Judge Aisha Naluzze Batala<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-07 |title=Museveni replaces Kamya with High Court Judge Aisha Naluzze as IGG, deputies retained |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/museveni-replaces-kamya-with-high-court-judge-aisha-naluzze-as-igg-deputies-retained--5220864 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Monitor |language=en}}</ref> as Uganda's new IGG by president Museveni. Betty's four year term of office expired last month, September 22, but her deputies have been retained. The names of the appointees have been sent to Parliament for vetting.
==Personal life== Kamya was married to Spencer Turwomwe, a soldier in the Ugandan military. He died in 2003. Together, they had six children.<ref name="Profile"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://mobile.monitor.co.ug/News/News/Kamya-invites-Amama-to-support-federal-system/-/2466686/2573566/-/format/xhtml/-/7eg6a9z/-/index.html Kamya Invites Amama To Support Federal System] * [https://archive.today/20150101161057/http://www.dispatch.ug/guide-to-ugandas-small-political-parties/646/ Guide To Uganda’s Small Political Parties] * [https://cabinetsecretariat.go.ug/data/staffdetails/29/Hon.%20Beti%20Kamya.html] * [https://www.parliament.go.ug/mp_database/profile.php?mid=469]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamya-Tiromwe, Beti}} Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:Makerere University alumni Category:21st-century Ugandan businesspeople Category:Lands, housing and urban development ministers of Uganda Category:Kampala capital city authority ministers of Uganda Category:People from Kampala District Category:Members of the 8th Parliament of Uganda Category:Members of the 10th Parliament of Uganda Category:Women government ministers of Uganda Category:Women members of the Parliament of Uganda Category:Ganda people Category:21st-century Ugandan women politicians Category:21st-century Ugandan businesswomen