The body of the late Mary Karooro Okurut, former minister, author, and long-serving Member of Parliament for Bushenyi District, has returned to Uganda ahead of burial.
Ms Karooro passed away this week in Nairobi, Kenya.
Her body arrived in the early hours of Thursday morning and was received at Entebbe International Airport by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa.
President Museveni granted the late Karooro an official burial, describing her as a dedicated public servant and an outstanding citizen whose work left a lasting impact on Uganda.
The Minister for the Presidency, Milly Babalanda, confirmed the President’s directive and announced that a National Organising Committee has been established to work with the family in preparing the burial.
Karooro, born on December 8, 1954, was a respected public figure who combined a life of political service with a distinguished career in education and literature.
After graduating from Makerere University with degrees in English Literature and Education, she began her career as a lecturer in 1981 before moving into public administration.
She served as Press Secretary to both the Vice-President and later the President, as well as Commissioner at the Education Service Commission.
She entered elective politics in 2004, becoming the Woman MP for Bushenyi District, and later held several ministerial positions, including Minister of Information and National Guidance, Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Minister for National Security, and Minister of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Beyond politics, Karooro was a celebrated author of novels, poetry, and children’s books, and was widely recognised as a champion of women’s empowerment and Uganda’s literary heritage.
Her life took a tragic turn last month when she was involved in a serious road accident while returning from a consultative meeting in Nebbi.
She sustained a broken pelvic bone and was initially treated at Nakasero Hospital before being airlifted to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, where she succumbed to her injuries on August 11, 2025.
At the time of her death, she had expressed her intention to return to elective politics by contesting for the position of Member of Parliament for the Elderly constituency.
Tributes have poured in from across the country, with leaders, colleagues, and communities remembering her as a visionary leader, a mentor, and a compassionate mother figure.
In her home district of Bushenyi, residents recalled her commitment to development projects, including plans to establish a sanitary pad factory and a skilling centre—initiatives they hope the government will continue in her honour.
Parliament Speaker Anita Annet Among and several former colleagues have hailed her as a trailblazer in communications and academia, while political leaders from various parties have remembered her as a unifying figure and promoter of peace.
The National Organising Committee is finalising the burial programme, which will include full national honours, a gun salute, and ceremonial protocols befitting her distinguished service to the nation.