| Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Finance | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2003 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 October 1967 Ovamboland, South West Africa |
| Nationality | Namibian |
| Political party | SWAPO |
| Alma mater | Lincoln University |
| Occupation | Politician |
Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila (born 12 October 1967) is a Namibian politician. A member of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Kuugongelwa has been a member of the National Assembly of Namibia since 1995 and Minister of Finance since 2003.[1]
Born in Okahao, Omusati, Kuugongelwa went into exile with SWAPO in 1980 and left for Sierra Leone in 1982 at the age of 15. She attended Koidu Girls Secondary School from 1982 to 1984 and Saint Joseph's Secondary School from 1984 to 1987. From 1991 to 1994, Kuugongelwa attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, United States, where she graduated from with a degree in economics.
The Omusati native returned to Namibia following graduation from Lincoln and took a position as a desk officer in the Office of the President under Sam Nujoma. At the age of 27 in 1995, Kuugongelwa was named Director General of the National Planning Commission.