Mary Busingye Karooro Okurut a Ugandan educator, author, politician, and women’s rights advocate whose work spanned literature, academia, and public servicedead at the age of 71
Tribute:Mary Karooro Okurut (1954–2025)
Mary Karooro Okurut was born on 8 December 1954 in Bushenyi District, Born on 8 December 1954 in Bushenyi District.
She studied at Makerere University, graduating with a BA, MA, and Diploma in Education. She began her career as a literature lecturer at Makerere before entering public service in the early 1990s.
She served as Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development and Minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Karooro was best known as the founder of the Uganda Women Writers Association (FEMRITE), a platform that nurtured generations of female authors.
Her published works include The Invisible Weevil, The Official Wife, and the short story anthology A Woman’s Voice, which explored themes of identity, culture, and social justice.
Karooro was married to the late politician Stanislaus Okurut until his death in 2014. She was a mother and grandmother, balancing her political career with a strong commitment to family and mentorship.
Her legacy lies in her pioneering role in Ugandan literature, her advocacy for women’s empowerment.
