By The Government has announced that the late Mary Busingye Karooro Okurut, a former minister, celebrated author, and advocate for women’s empowerment, will be accorded an official burial.
Karooro passed away on Monday, August 11, 2025, at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, after a distinguished career in public service, literature, and community development.
According to the programme released by the National Organizing Committee chaired by Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda, the burial events will begin on Wednesday, August 13, with the arrival of the body at Entebbe International Airport, to be received by family members and close friends.
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On Thursday, August 14, a vigil will be held at her home on Ntinda-Bukoto Road in Kampala. This will be followed on Friday, August 15, by a church service at All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero, before her body is airlifted to Bushenyi for a service at St. Peter’s Cathedral. A vigil will then take place at her ancestral home.
The final send-off is scheduled for Saturday, August 16, in Bwatogo, Bushenyi District. Prayers will begin at 11:00 am, with burial set for 2:00 pm.
The government will provide security at all venues, with the Uganda Police Force overseeing proceedings, including a gun salute at the burial.
Karooro’s legacy spans decades of public service, including ministerial roles in Information and National Guidance, Gender, Labour and Social Development, Security, and the Office of the Prime Minister. She also chaired Uganda’s COVID-19 National Task Force in 2020, co-founded FEMRITE, and authored acclaimed literary works such as The Invisible Weevil and The Official Wife.
Her passing marks the loss of a trailblazing leader, educator, and literary figure whose contributions to Uganda will be remembered with deep respect.
