Barbara Saben

Saben was born in India in 1912. After receiving a private education, she studied at St James College in London from 1931 to 1932.^[1] She moved to Uganda in 1940 with her businessman husband.^[2] She was a founder member of the Uganda Council of Women in 1946. In the 1951 New Year Honours she was awarded an MBE for her public service in Uganda. She was also a founder member of the National Council of Social Service, serving as its president.^[1]

In 1954 Saben and Alice Boase were appointed to the Legislative Council, becoming its first female members.^[3] Following the 1958 elections she became deputy chair of the Representative Members' Organisation, a grouping of the nominated members.^[4] She remained on the Council until 1961.^[5] Saben had also become a member of Kampala City Council when it was established.^[6] After serving as deputy mayor from 1959 to 1960,^[2] she became the first female mayor of the city in 1961, serving until 1962.^[3] She was awarded a CBE in the 1963 New Year Honours; later in the same year she resigned from the City Council.^[1]

She died in the United Kingdom in September 2014.^[7]