Mary Karooro Okurut, the founder of the Uganda Women Writers Association, also known as Femrite, passed away on Monday, August 11, 2025.
Mary Karooro Okurut was a Ugandan educator, author, and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Bushenyi District and a Cabinet Minister. The Ugandan politician was also a prolific writer with the novels The Curse of the Sacred Cow (1994), The Adventurous Sisters (1994), The Invisible Weevil (1998), The Man who Ate His Eye (2002), The Blood Brothers (2002), The Official Wife (2003), Potiphar’s Grand Daughter (2013), and The Switch (2016).
In 1995, while a lecturer at Makerere University, Mrs. Okurut founded the
Uganda Women Writers Association, or Femrite, to develop and publish works by women writers. The hope was to address the lack of female voices in Ugandan literature by providing a platform for training, mentorship, and publishing opportunities for women writers. Lillian Tindyebwa, Ayeta Anne Wangusa, Susan Nalugwa Kiguli, Martha Ngabirano, Margaret Ntakalimaze, Rosemary Kyarimpa, Hilda Twongyeirwe, Philomena Rwabukuku, and Judith Kakonge joined her.
The organisation went on to platform Ugandan women with over 44 book titles published by 2023. Additionally, they have published over 200 women in their books, magazines, and journals. They also have a significant impact through outreach activities, reaching 10,000 people.
The Ugandan who was hoping to return to active politics passed away at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi on Monday, August 11.
Rest in Peace, Mary Karooro Okurut.
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