Karooro respected authority was humane, and gifted literary writer

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TRIBUTE

By Victor Manzi

Pole sana, pole sana. One of the most gifted literary writers Uganda has produced has passed on. She was such a nice and wonderful person.

I worked with her when she chaired the presidential affairs committee. I can attest that in my career of clerking, I haven’t seen a very humane and great chairperson like her. Even when I left the committee (and Parliament), we continued to touch base on several issues, especially literary works.

We would discuss/critique what she had written or produced, or other trending views.

She was such a great writer of our times. Very insightful and careful on what and how she penned what she produced.

Mary Karooro Okurut. (File)

Mary respected authority. I do recall when she led the committee to meet President Yoweri Museveni at State House, Nakasero. In this meeting, the President was discussing with the committee the purchase of the current presidential Gulfstream jet.

This was necessitated by the ageing of the jet that had been purchased during the regime of Idi Amin. The President Museveni recounted a near-fatal incident on his trip to Cuba. In this meeting, she was calm, respectful and jolly.

Before the commencement of the meeting, she guided members on the protocols and demeanour that were expected of them during the meeting with the President. I do recall we had members like Louis Opange, Nabilah Sempala, Ashraf Olega, and others.

Hon. Amelia Kyambadde was the President’s principal private secretary, Tamale Mirundi, the press secretary and Richard Muhinda, the State House comptroller. All were present.

I was directed to ensure that a good report for the acquisition of that jet was produced in record time. This task was achieved.

Mary was a loving family lady and greatly loved her husband, the late Stanislaus Okurut. For instance, in moments/circumstances when her husband would have experienced a previous bad night, it would affect her work the following day. Coming to the office, in Room 203, North Wing and sitting alone, quiet and at times emotional.

Then she would say: “Manzi, omushaija arire kubi.” It would take her time to recover and recompose herself.

Hon, you ran your race; may the Almighty grant you eternal rest and comfort the ones you loved most. Pole sana pole sana.

The writer is a senior clerk assistant at the East African Legislative Assembly