Ummy Mwalimu


Ummy Ally Mwalimu is a Tanzanian politician belonging to the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party. She has been Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender, Seniors and Children in the Cabinet of Tanzania since 2015. She is a two-term Member of Parliament, appointed to a seat reserved for women in the parliament of Tanzania

Background and education

Mwalimu was born on September 5, 1973. She completed her schooling from the Korogwe Girls Secondary School in 1993. in 1998, she received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Dar es Salaam. She received her Master of Laws degree from the University of Pretoria in 2001. Between 2000 and 2010, she worked in various governmental and NGO agencies in legal, research and governance roles.

Political career

Mwalimu first became involved with the CCM in 2007. She is a two-term Member of Parliament as a member of CCM. In 2010 and again in 2015, she was appointed to a seat reserved for women by the President.
In President Jakaya Kikwete's administration, she served in a succession of ministerial roles. Between 2010 and 2014, she was Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children. She also served as Deputy Minister in the Vice President's Office and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
In 2015, the newly elected President John Magufuli appointed Mwalimu as Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children.
As Health Minister, she banned the importation and sale of sexual lubricants into Tanzania stating this would curb homosexuality, which is criminalized in Tanzania. This stance has been condemned by NGOs and goes against UNAIDS recommendation that providing water-based lubricants along with condoms can help curb the spread of HIV.
Mwalimu has stated her support for ending underage marriage and assured activists she would table a bill in Parliament amending the laws that allow persons under the age of 18 to get married. Once the law is passed, this practice will be illegal.