By BM
The Bishop of the Diocese of West Ankole, Church of Uganda, Rt. Rev. Johnson Twinomujuni, has paid heartfelt tribute to the late former Minister and Member of Parliament, Hon. Mary Karooro Okurut.
In a moving tribute letter, Bishop Twinomujuni described Hon. Karooro as a “remarkable daughter of the soil” whose life was “a tapestry woven with wisdom, courage, and service.”
Born on December 8, 1954, in Bushenyi District, Mary Karooro walked a distinguished path in public service, academia, and literature.
She was a scholar of literature, a revered lecturer at Makerere University, and an acclaimed author who used her voice to champion the stories of Uganda.
She was also a co-founder of FEMRITE—Uganda Women Writers Association—an initiative that gave voice to countless women writers, many of whom went on to achieve national and international acclaim.
Bishop Twinomujuni noted that her public service career was equally illustrious, spanning decades and encompassing key leadership roles:
Minister of Information, Minister of Gender, Minister of Security, Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, and Woman Member of Parliament for Bushenyi District.
“In each role, she carried the values she held dear: integrity, empathy, and an unwavering belief in the potential of her people,” he wrote.
He added that Karooro was “more than a politician or an author—she was a bridge between worlds, between policy and humanity, between leadership and humility.”
She stood firmly for women’s rights, education, and the dignity of every Ugandan.
Describing her as a “literary giant, seasoned stateswoman, Canon in the Church of Christ, and trailblazer,” Bishop Twinomujuni reflected on her enduring legacy preserved in her books, policies, and the many lives she mentored and inspired.
Concluding his tribute, the Bishop, himself a poet and writer, honored her memory with a poem titled “Pages of Light”:
Pages of Light: Like a candle on the altar, you burned so others might see.
Like a book of prayer, your life was filled with chapters – of wisdom, faith, and compassion.
You taught us that words can build nations, and that service, in church or state, is not a crown, but a cross to carry with love.
You reminded us that the measure of a life is not its length, but its depth in service to God and neighbour.
Now you have returned to the Author of all life, may you find your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
And though the page has turned, your story, Mary Karooro, will shine in eternity’s light.
Rest in joy, you’ve lived as ‘pages of light’! As of now, the Government of Uganda has not issued an official statement regarding the passing of the former Minister.
