Betty Amongi was born in Oyam District, Lango sub-region, in the Northern Region of Uganda, on 15 November 1975.
[4] In 1996, she entered Makerere University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in political science and public administration.
[5] In a surprise move following the 20 February 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections, President Yoweri Museveni of the ruling National Resistance Movement political party, named her Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, despite her affiliation to the opposition Uganda People's Congress.
On 6 April 2013, Betty Amongi married Jimmy Akena, the member of Parliament for Lira Municipality and president of the opposition Uganda People's Congress.
The traditional marriage took place in Minakulu sub-county, Oyam District and was attended by 32 members of parliament.