By Aggrey Baba
Exiled activist, writer and lawyer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija has paid tribute to the late Mary Karooro Okurut, whose body has been laid to rest today, Saturday at her ancestral home in Bushenyi, remembering her as a gifted storyteller whose works inspired a generation, but criticizing her later political career.
In his reflection, Rukira highlighted Karooro’s literary contributions, including The Invisible Weevil, The Switch, and The Official Wife, praising her skill in using language to tell powerful stories, placing her alongside other leading Ugandan female writers, noting their influence on young writers.
However, the exiled writer also criticized the fallen writer’s (Karooro) transition into politics, arguing that she diverted her talent to praise Museveni rather than challenge injustices. “She was a great storyteller who, like many others, traded her gift for the role of cheerleading outdated governance,” Rukira wrote.
He framed his tribute within a broader discussion on the power of language and its historical role in shaping societies, citing African literary icons such as Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, and Ngugi wa Thiong’o.
Despite the critique, Rukira acknowledged the lasting value of her works and their role in inspiring readers to engage with Uganda’s social and cultural narratives.
