Mary Busingye Karoro Okurut was a prominent Ugandan educator, author, and politician who passed away on August 11, 2025, at the age of 70.
Personal Life and Early Background
Born on December 8, 1954, in Bushenyi District, Mary Busingye Karoro Okurut was widely known simply as Mary Karoro Okurut. She was a Protestant and was married to Stanislaus Okurut until his death on April 5, 2014. Together, they had eight children—five boys and three girls.
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Education
Okurut’s educational journey began in her home district. She attended Bweranyangi Primary School for her elementary education, followed by Bweranyangi Girls’ Senior Secondary School for her middle school studies. In 1972, at the age of 18, she enrolled at Trinity College Nabbingo for her high school education.
She then pursued higher education at Makerere University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Literature (BA.Lit) in 1977. Three years later, in 1981, she completed her Master of Arts in Literature (MA.Lit) from the same university. In 1982, she further enhanced her qualifications by obtaining a Diploma in Education (Dip.Ed) from Makerere University.
Career in Academia and Public Service
Mary Karoro Okurut began her professional career in academia. Immediately after completing her master’s degree in 1981, she joined Makerere University’s Department of Literature as a lecturer, a position she held until 1993.
Transitioning into public service, she served as the press secretary to the Vice President of Uganda from 1994 to 1996. Following this, she worked as a Commissioner for the Education Service Commission within the Ugandan Ministry of Education from 1996 to 1999. From 1999 to 2004, Okurut served as the press secretary to the President of Uganda.
Political Career
In 2004, Mary Karoro Okurut entered elective politics, contesting for the Bushenyi District Women’s Constituency on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party ticket. She successfully won the election and continued to represent this constituency in the Parliament of Uganda.
Throughout her political career, Okurut held significant ministerial portfolios:
- Minister of Information and National Guidance: From May 2011 to May 2013.
- Minister of Gender and Social Issues: She was appointed to this role in 2012, replacing Syda Bumba, and served until March 2015.
- Cabinet Minister for National Security: Appointed on March 1, 2015, replacing Wilson Muruli Mukasa, and serving until June 6, 2016.
- Cabinet Minister in Charge of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister: Appointed on June 6, 2016, a position she held as of April 2020.
In the 2020 NRM party flag bearer elections, Karoro Okurut lost to Annet Katusiime Mugisha, who subsequently became the Bushenyi District Woman Member of Parliament in the 2021 Uganda presidential and parliamentary elections.
Literary Contributions
Beyond her political and public service career, Mary Karoro Okurut was highly regarded for her contributions to Ugandan literature. She is perhaps best known as the founder of the Uganda Women Writers Association (FEMRITE). FEMRITE has played a crucial role in promoting women writers in Uganda, gaining international attention and producing notable talents, including Arach Monica de Nyeko, who won the Caine Prize in 2007 for her story “Jambula Tree.”
Her published literary works include:
- Novels:
- “The Invisible Weevil” (1998)
- “The Official Wife”
- Edited Collections:
- “A Woman’s Voice” (1998), a collection of short stories by Ugandan women writers.
- Other Works:
- “The Curse of The Sacred Cow”
