Kawooya belongs to National Resistance Movement (NRM) political party.
[1] In 2004, she attained a Bachelors Degree of Arts in Development Studies from Nkumba University.
Between 1998-2002, she served as the Executive Publicity Secretary at National Women Council.
From 1980 to 1992, she was employed as the Sales and Marketing Officer at Uganda Airlines & Zambia Airways.
Hanifa also worked as the Caucus Treasurer of the National Resistance Movement.