Paul Aruho Rwambangye
The Aunt Mary I know
A lot has been said about Hon. Mary KaroroBusingyeOkurut after her death. This is not to join the bandwagon, but to write about a woman whom I have known and worker for/with.
I had known Mary for some years, but I came closer to her in 2004 towards 2005/6 elections. I had just completed my journalism course from Islamic University in Uganda, Mbale campus,and was relocating back to Bushenyi. I had secured a correspondence job with Daily Monitor as a reporter for Greater Bushenyi.
My first meeting with her, I was Chris Mugasha, a journalist with Vision Group.
“This is Aruho Paul,” Mugasha said, “a journalist with Daily Monitor.”
“Ohhh, but this is a familiar face! How are you Paul?” she greeted me with her extra-ordinary way of pronouncing my name phonetically. It was true my family (the Rwambangyes) are well known to the Karoros, and saying that my face was familiar, wasn’t misplaced.
It didn’t take us long to get into a conversation. She asked me why I chose Daily Monitor of all papers to work for. After explaining to her why, she apologised for asking the question saying that she likes their (Monitor) style of writing.
Later Ms.Karoro liked my writing. The way I presented issues, especially her stories in Daily Monitor. We would cover her campaigns with professionalism. Every time a story came out, she would call to say thank and or to tell you where you went wrong.
Whenever she had issues to talk about concerning the people of Bushenyi district, she would invite the media for a press conference. Soft spoken, she would articulate her points that no journalist would struggle to write a story. Year in year out, journalists enjoyed Ms Karoro while doing their work.
In 2013, I was appointed a News Editor at BFM radio in the centre of Bushenyi town. I closely worked on Karoro’s stories. Editing stories of Karoro was my pride. However, this later put me in conflict with my bosses, who thought I was giving her too much attention. I won’t go into details on this. The pressure was too much that forced me to resign after hundreds of false accusations and warning letters.
I don’t know who told her that I had resigned from my Editorial job at BFM radio. She called me and we had a simple discussion over it. In 2015/16, I closely covered her campaign. I went with her in Ruhumuro for the fisrt time. Navigating the Ruhumuro steep hills in her personal car, was another experience.
I remember there is a time she invited us to Kampala for her party when she was appointed minister. It was a fun-filling day as we enjoyed the ambience of Serena Hotel.
When I left active journalism, we kept in touch. She invited me for even a simple function at her home. One time I was surprised when she sent me a wrapped gift. When I opened it, it was full of love. Thereafter, more gifts started coming in, either on Easter or Christmas. They represented someone with a big heart.
When she lost in NRM party primaries in 2020, she again invited me in her home. I found when she had had a press briefing. I found her in her house and welcomed me with her trade mark smile. We talked for sometime and of course she looked not much shaken by the loss, though you could feel the frustration from her voice.
Like a year ago, I was on the stage coming from Mbarara. She passed by and after recognisingthat I was the one, she told the driver to reverse and pick me. Inside that car, we talked about a number of things. I had just gotten a transfer to Masindi district and there is some project which we had agreed to work on together. Before it materialised, she got busy with her state duties. The work was in progress but a bit slower.
Then later she went silence. The calls became few, the Whatsapp messages went unanswered. It was through Mugasha again, who told me that Hon. Mary has been unwell. Mugasha mentioned it trembling. The exchange we made proved that anything can happen. He told me to prepare for the worst.
But before, there was a message that she circulated telling us that she had an accident. I thought that that was a simple condition that can easilybe managed with the health systems of our country.
When the sad news came in the late evening hours of Tuesday 11 August 2025, it never took me by surprise, but it shook me harder. I felt the loss in my heart, but I remained stronger to thank God for the life Mary lived.
Aunt Mary, the way I have always addressed you, you have slipped off between our fingers. You have just gone, just gone like that forever. I will forever love you Aunt Mary.
May your soul rest in peace.
