Pumla Ellen Ngozwana Kisosonkole
South Africa
Pumla Ellen Ngozwana Kisosonkole
Kisosonkole was born in South Africa in 1911 to Methodist church ministers. She received education at
mission schools and attended the University of Fort Hare. She travelled to
London, furthering her education at the Institute of Education. She then
wrote the pamphlet “Education as I Saw It in England”. She married
Ugandan Christopher Kisosonkole in 1939. They moved to Uganda, where
Pumla became involved in politics. She spent eight years as a senior
community development officer and taught at King’s College Budo. In 1956
she was nominated to the Uganda Legislative Council (LEGCO) of the
Protectorate Government.
She was the first African woman to enter the legislative council. She served
as a representative in the legislature during Uganda’s transition from a
British colony to independence. She started a four-year stretch as president
of the Uganda Council of Women in 1957. She was the first African to
serve in that role. From 1959 to 1962 she was president of the International
Council of Women.
