ʻUliti Uata

ʻUliti Uata (born 24 August 1936^[1]) is a Tongan politician. He is a member of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement and the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.^[2]

ʻUliti Uata
Minister of Health
In office 25 January 2011 – 25 June 2012
Prime Minister	Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō
Preceded by	ʻAkilisi Pōhiva
Succeeded by	Tonga Tuʻiʻafitu
Member of the Tongan Parliament for Haʻapai 13
In office 25 November 2010 – 27 November 2014
Preceded by	none (seat created)
Succeeded by	Veivosa Taka
Member of Parliament for Haʻapai
In office 4 February 1993 – 25 November 2010
Succeeded by	none (seat disestablished)
In office 1975–1980
Personal details
Born	24 August 1936
Political party	Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands

Biography

He was initially a businessman, running several businesses including "inter-islands ferries, general store, tourism, and others", until he entered politics and "divested himself" of his businesses so as to focus on his political career and on his family.^[1] His wife, Luisa Mataele Uata, is a distinguished baker and successful businesswoman.

Uata was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga in 1975, and served as a People's Representative until 1980. After a break from politics, he contested the 1993 election and won the seat of Ha'apai. He has been re-elected in every subsequent election.^[3]

In 2007, Uata was one of several pro-democracy MPs charged with sedition over speeches given before the 2006 Nuku'alofa riots.^[4] The charges were dismissed in September 2009.^[5]

Uata was re-elected for an eighth term in the 2010 election, for the new single-seat constituency of Haʻapai 13, and nominated to the post of Minister of Health on 25 January 2011, following ʻAkilisi Pohiva's resignation from that position.^[6] In late June 2012, Uata -along with two other ministers- resigned from the Cabinet, so as to support a motion of no confidence tabled by his party (DPFI) against the government.^[7] He was succeeded as Minister for Health by Lord Tuʻiʻafitu.^[8]