Jane Frances Kuka

Jane Frances Kuka is a Ugandan educator, anti-Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) activist, politician and former Member of Parliament for Kapchorwa in Uganda's sixth parliament (1996 - 2001) and was replaced by Gertrude Kulany. She was the Minister of State for Gender and Development from 1996 to 1998, a State Minister for Disaster Preparedness in 1999 and later appointed Resident District Commissioner for Kapchorwa District in 2007 replacing Tezira Jamwa.

Kuka was born Jane Frances Yasiwa in Sipi, Kapchorwa to Miriam Chelangat in the 1950s. She attended Gamutui Primary School then later in 1966 enrolled at Nyondo Teachers College in Mbale. She qualified as a teacher in 1969. She followed this up at Ggaba Teachers College and became a grade three teacher.

Teaching

Kuka was a music teacher at Gamutui Primary School in 1969. In 1988, she was promoted to Principal of Kapchorwa Teachers’ College.

Politics

Kuka unsuccessfully tried to run for Parliament in the 1989 elections as well as the Constituent Assembly elections in 1994. She was later elected as Woman Member of Parliament and represented Kapchorwa in Uganda's sixth parliament.

In addition to being a Member of Parliament, she served as the State Minister for Gender and Community Development (1996 -1998). In 1999, she was transferred and appointed as the State Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees.

In 2007, she was appointed Resident District Commissioner for Kapchorwa district and reappointed to the same position in 2014. In between she worked as the President's deputy principal private secretary.

Anti-FGM activism

As the principal of Kapchorwa Teachers College in 1988, Kuka survived lynching as she was opposed to the resolution of the Kapchorwa District Council that made Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) mandatory. Kuka herself refers to it as "Female Genital Cutting" as she says that the term "Female Genital Mutilation sounds too harsh and fosters toomuch defensiveness".

She has been dubbed "Heroine of the Female Genital Mutilation fight" and has spoken on the topic on a number of international platforms.

In 1972, she married Steven Kuka.

In 2012, Kuka received a civilian award - The Distinguished Order of the Nile – Class 4 in recognition of her activism against Female Genital Mutilation.

In recognition of her fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Kuka was awarded the Tumaini Lifetime Achievement award in 2013.