In this episode of the Footprints podcast, Canon Jolly Babirukamu shares her remarkable seventy-four-year journey of service and mentorship. From her early years to teaching, retirement, and business, her story is one of resilience, leadership, and faith.
Born in Kabale, she moved to Rukungiri at eight, which she now considers home. She attended Nyakaina Primary School before joining Trinity College Nabbingo in 1965, where she served as a timekeeper, her first leadership role.
She later taught Home Economics at Gayaza High School and Kyebambe Girls' Secondary School, shaping young minds while supplementing her income with wedding cake baking. Eventually, she made the difficult decision to take early retirement to focus on family. To ensure her children received a good education, she ventured into business, opening a textile shop and sourcing materials from Dubai and India.
In 1980, Canon Jolly joined the Church of Uganda, becoming Chairperson of the Mother’s Union in 1984. She was committed to uplifting women, particularly those without formal education, equipping them with parenting and income-generating skills. By 2000, she became President of Kampala Diocese and the overall president across all Church of Uganda provinces, the only woman on the Anglican Consultative Council at the time. She revived and coordinated both the Women’s Network and the Peace and Justice Network, expanding the role of women in leadership.
As a grandmother herself, Canon Jolly became Chairperson of the Grandmothers Consortium, supporting elderly women raising their grandchildren in poverty-stricken areas like Rukungiri and Kigezi. The consortium fundraises to build homes with essential facilities such as pit latrines and kitchens.
Her commitment extends to volunteering with the Nyaka AIDS Foundation, training grandmothers in home-based care for children living with HIV. Through this initiative, many elderly women have regained confidence and taken on leadership roles in their communities.
Recognizing the need for accessible healthcare, her family founded the Babirukamu Foundation, which led to the construction of Kataryeba Health Centre in Rukungiri, offering charitable medical care to the community.
Canon Jolly emphasizes the importance of planning for retirement, discouraging sole reliance on children for financial security. She advocates for health insurance and using one’s active years to mentor and transform communities.
Her journey is a testament to strength, selflessness, and adaptability, proving that retirement is not an end, it is a new beginning. Through faith, hard work, and service, Canon Jolly continues to inspire generations.
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© Blurb written by Divine Karungi
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