Hundreds gather to honour the life of the late Hon Mary Karooro Okurut

15 August 2025, 4:56 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

Hundreds of mourners gathered today at All Saints Cathedral in Kampala to celebrate the life of the late Hon Mary Lay Busingye Karooro Okurut, a distinguished leader who served Uganda in various capacities. Her career included roles as Press Secretary to the Vice President from 1996 to 1999, Senior Press Secretary to the President from 1999 to 2004, Woman Member of Parliament for Bushenyi from 2004 to 2016, Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Minister of Information and National Guidance, Minister for General Duties, Spokesperson for the National Resistance Movement, and Senior Presidential Advisor on Public Relations, among others. The thanksgiving service was led by the Archbishop of Uganda, His Grace Steven Kazimba Mugalu, who thanked God for Okurut’s life and urged the congregation to serve Him faithfully.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, praised the late Okurut for her dedicated representation of the people of Greater Bushenyi District. “It is very saddening to hear of Hon Mary Karooro Okurut’s death, especially at a time when she had planned a political comeback. Hon Karooro diligently represented the people of Greater Bushenyi in Parliament. Her advocacy to empower the girl child, her love for her motherland, and her loyalty to the NRM party will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences go to her family, the people of Greater Bushenyi, and the country at large,” he said.

Okurut was also celebrated for her contributions to literature as the founder of the Uganda Women Writers Association, which created opportunities for countless women to share their stories, mentor others, and establish their place in the literary world. Her mentorship and advocacy shaped generations of writers and thinkers, leaving a lasting impact on Ugandan literature. Pastor Wilson Bugembe of the Worship House in Nansana described her as a God-fearing woman who valued prayer, noting that she often attended church for personal devotion despite her high-profile position. He encouraged those present to serve God diligently, just as she had done.

In 2016, Okurut was honoured with the title of Lay Canon in the Diocese of West Ankole in recognition of her deep faith and dedicated service to the church. She also represented the Mukaira Foundation on the council of Valley University of Science and Technology in Bushenyi, contributing to its growth and vision. Commissioner in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Winston Katushabe, remembered her as a hardworking leader committed to improving people’s lives.

Born on 12 July 1954 in Bushenyi to the late Earnest Karooro, a sub-county chief in Ankole, and the late Victo Kangyeya Karooro, she married Hon Stanislas Okurut in 1983, a union that lasted 31 years until his passing in 2014. The couple raised their children together. Hon Karooro Okurut passed away on 11 August 2025 at the age of 71 at Nairobi Hospital after a short illness. Her family expressed gratitude to the government for its support and to God for blessing them with a loving mother, grandmother, and friend. She will be laid to rest today in Bushenyi District.