On July 21, 2025 Mary Karooro Okurut Busingye reached out to her doctor identified as Dr. Simon Luzige of Nakasero Hospital. She was in a very bad health situation going by the analysis and observation by the doctor. This doctor had been handling her situation for years but she chose not to reveal it to anyone else apart from her sister who said Karooro had been with it for the last 15 years. Not even her hubby’s family knew about it.
According to Dr. Luzige, the soft-spoken minister had a chronic lung condition which saw her visiting various hospitals in Uganda, South Africa and others.
“She has been with this condition for the last 15 years. It is incurable. The first time it manifested itself, she went to South Africa” her sister told mourners during a requiem mass at All Saints Church.
Even when she went to South Africa, the stubborn disease however, continued to count her ribs forcing her to try Dubai.
On the fateful day, Dr. Luzige found Karooro in a bad shape. She was struggling to breath and had been using Oxygen.
When diagnosed, the medics among others found clots in her lungs and infections. She was immediately admitted and given treatment. The situation however, continued to deteriorate and Karooro was put under the Intensive Care Unit! But that wasn’t enough to arrest the ailment, it continued to hit her badly and the lungs kept getting damaged. A decision was immediately taken to Airlift her to Nairobi for further management.
Unfortunately, her condition worsened resulting in multiple organ failure. With such a situation, the honorable Karooro lost the battle!
“She died of multiple complications triggered by her chronic lung situation” Dr. Luzige said, ending waves of speculation about the exact cause of her death.
Speaker after speaker, Mary Karooro was described as a peacemaker, unifier, role model and a generous lady.
Her husband Stanislaus Okurut’s family described her as a unifier. The family stated that Karooro never segregated kids.
“She has left a unified factor in the family. She never divided children basing on who is who. We were together” the family from Teso told the congregation. The in-laws also shared Karooro’s other side when she was a free lady. She liked Music! Her favorite artists were Zaire’s Mbilia Bel whose songs like Nakei Nairobi, Nadina, Bo Yaye didn’t leave her seated whenever they were played. She also had strong feelings for Angela Ikijo whose songs like Agolo, Wambolombo didn’t leave the [now] late Karooro seated. Others she enjoyed included South African songstress Yuovone Chaka Chaka!
“She loved music, that’s why she even adopted to that dress code. She really also loved my brother” the hubby’s family eulogized Karooro, who lay silent in her casket in-front of the church.
However, the family was also shocked to learn that their wife had a lung problem.
“We didn’t know Mary had a problem of the lungs. She was very secretive” the Okurut’s brother told the mourners.
Prof. Francis Omaswa, a prominent elder from Teso who has worked closely with Karooro, described her as a thorough and transparent person. He recalled the times Karooro chaired the COVID-19 Fund Committee which had big names like Dr. Emmanuel Katongole, Agha Sekalaala, Dorothy Kisaka and himself among others.
“She was very particular that all funds for COVID were banked. She always asked for reports every week. We have lost her and we thank God for her” Prof. Omaswa said. A medic by profession and also a former DG Health Services, the man from Ngora explained that the disease that ended Karooro’s journey is a very rare one. He however, said that although it is rare, it is a very difficult disease to reverse and yet it affects mainly the lungs and kidneys.
Karooro was described as a generous, patriotic and role model. The deputy speaker Thomas Tayebwa said Karooro was extremely patriotic and committed to Uganda.
“She was extremely loyal to President Museveni and NRM. She was a person of extreme. She was a person of dignity and presented her points in a very calm manner. She would deliver a very strong message but in a measured tone. We thank her for her great service to government and President Museveni” he said, adding that because of this, President Museveni and his wife Janet visited Karooro while in Nakasero hospital. Karooro died on Monday and will be buried tomorrow-Saturday in Bushenyi, her home district. The requiem mass was led by Arch-Bishop Dr. Kazimba Mugalu who urged leaders to emulate Karooro and desist from stealing. He said however much one steals, he or she will go with nothing!
