Ex-fishmonger Hellen Auma becomes youngest Uganda MP at 23
For Hellen Auma Wandera life is not a bed of roses. It takes hard work and determination to succeed.
While pursuing her Bachelor of arts degree at Kyambogo University in Uganda, Hellen also worked as a fish vendor at Banda market center, helping her parents to raise money for her fees and upkeep.
After the just concluded general elections in Uganda, Hellen made history, emerging as the youngest MP in the country. She took the oath of office on May 17, at the age of 23.
Hellen said joining politics was a vision she received from God at a tender age. During her time in secondary school, Hellen had a dream on her life in politics which she quickly dismissed but it came back years later while in the university.
Born in December 12, 1997, Hellen is the fourth child in a family of seven children of Mr Dickson Wandera and Ms Betty Ofuro from Busia district, Uganda.
Speaking to Daily Monitor, her mother used to send Hellen fish from home which she would deep-fry before selling it to fellow students.
She graduated in 2019 the same year she abandoned her fish vending business and embarked on her political journey working closely with boda-boda riders to build grassroots support.
The political machinery she assembled would later see her trounce her rivals in the party primaries, earning her the support of the ruling National Resistance Movement.
And in the January 14 general election, she won Busia woman MP seat.
