Dr. Oscar Kashala Lukumuena (born August 4, 1954) is a politician in the

Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...

and was a candidate in the 2006 presidential election. Doctor Kashala is a graduate of

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

and has held senior executive positions in the pharmaceutical industry. He previously took a leave of absence in order to campaign in the 2006 elections, after years of residence in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. Dr. Kashala announced his candidacy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's 2011 presidential election. Kashala is a native of the

(DRC), and is the National President of the (UREC), a political party registered with the DRC Government. UREC participated in the 2006 Elections in the DRC.

Biography

Oscar Kashala was born on August 4, 1954, in

Lubumbashi Lubumbashi (former names: ( French), (Dutch)) is the second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in the country's southeasternmost part, along the border with Zambia. The capital and principal city of the Haut-Katanga ...

Haut-Katanga District Haut-Katanga District (Upper Katanga District) is a former district located in the former Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The copper mining centers of Lubumbashi and Likasi were surrounded by the district but were admin ...

, from Congolese parents. Son of a retired military sergeant in the Force Publique, the Congolese Army under

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

colonization, Oscar Kashala was raised in an environment that focused on strict discipline,

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

faith, hard work, excellence in education and family values. He excelled as a student and as a boy scout. Kashala graduated from

Kinshasa Kinshasa (; ; ln, Kinsásá), formerly Léopoldville ( nl, Leopoldstad), is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Once a site of fishing and trading villages situated along the Congo River, Kinshasa is now one o ...

University Medical School in 1980 with honors, and trained in internal medicine and pathology at the University of Kinshasa, then at the University of Lausanne and University of Geneva Medical Schools. In 1986, the

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of h ...

(WHO/AFRO) awarded him a fellowship for medical oncology in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

. Then he obtained a fellowship in cancer biology at

, Boston. This was followed by admission into a doctoral program in cancer biology and immunology in a combined degree program (Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology). He received a Doctor of Science degree from Harvard University in 1992. In May 2006, thirty members of Kashala's security detail were accused of plotting to overthrow interim Congo president

Joseph Kabila Joseph Kabila Kabange ( , ; born 4 June 1971) is a Congolese politician who served as President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo between January 2001 and January 2019. He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, Presi ...

. Kashala and the international community dismissed the allegations as a blatant attempt by Kabila's administration to intimidate him. In the 2006 election, Kashala finished in fifth place with 4% of votes in the first round of voting, well short of

Jean-Pierre Bemba Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo (born 4 November 1962) is a politician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was one of four Vice-Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, vice-presidents in the transitional government of the Democrat ...

's 20% and

's 45%.

Personal life

Kashala is married to Prudence Kashala. They have raised a family of 8 children. Dr. Kashala is the head of Asterko which is a holdings company that has many dealings around the world mainly for profit ventures.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kashala, Oscar 1954 births Living people People from Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo politicians Harvard University alumni Candidates for President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo