Footprints Podcast | Season 1 | Episode 14 | Retirement? Not in Her Vocabulary
In this episode of the Footprints podcast, Canon Jolly Babirukamu takes us on a journey through her remarkable seventy-four years of service and mentorship. From her childhood to teaching, early retirement, and eventually becoming a businesswoman, her story is one of resilience, leadership, and unwavering faith.
Born in Kabale, Canon Jolly moved to Rukungiri at the age of eight with her parents, a place she now considers home. Her education began at Nyakaina Primary School, before she joined Trinity College Nabbingo in 1965 as one of the first girls to attend the prestigious institution. While there, she served as a timekeeper, her first taste of leadership.
She later became a Home Economics teacher, shaping young minds at renowned schools like Gayaza High School and Kyebambe Girls' Secondary School, where she taught cookery. Alongside teaching, she strategically took up wedding cake baking, an additional skill that provided her with supplementary income.
Canon Jolly made the difficult decision to take early retirement to focus on her family as a wife and mother. She knew the financial responsibility that came with raising children and ventured into business to ensure they received a good education. With prior training in clothing and textiles, she opened a textile shop, sourcing materials from Dubai and India, and successfully built a thriving enterprise.
Beyond business, she remained committed to mentoring the youth and her children, instilling in them a strong work ethic and a belief in earning money through honest means.
In 1980, Canon Jolly joined the Church of Uganda, rising to become the Chairperson of the Mother’s Union in 1984. She was determined to uplift women, particularly mothers who had not received a formal education, by equipping them with parenting skills and income-generating opportunities.
Her leadership grew beyond Uganda, and by 2000, she became the President of Kampala Diocese and the overall president across all Church of Uganda provinces. She was also the only woman on the Anglican Consultative Council at the time. Her impact was far-reaching, as she revived and coordinated the Women’s Network and the Peace and Justice Network, strengthening the role of women in the church and beyond.
As a grandmother herself, Canon Jolly took on a new cause, supporting grandmothers who care for their grandchildren, often in difficult circumstances. She became Chairperson of the Grandmothers Consortium, a position she still holds today.
Through this role, she witnessed heartbreaking realities in communities like Rukungiri and Kigezi, where elderly women struggled in poverty while raising multiple grandchildren. To ease their burden, the consortium fundraises and builds houses with essential facilities, including pit latrines and kitchens.
Her commitment extended to volunteering with the Nyaka AIDS Foundation, where she and her team train grandmothers in home-based care for children living with HIV. Their efforts have restored confidence among elderly women, many of whom have since taken on leadership roles in their communities, whether in politics at the LC1 level or in church leadership.
Recognizing the need for accessible healthcare, her family also established the Babirukamu Foundation, which led to the construction of Kataryeba Health Centre in Rukungiri. The facility provides charitable medical care to the community, ensuring that vulnerable individuals receive essential health services.
Canon Jolly’s wisdom extends beyond leadership and service, she emphasizes the importance of planning for retirement. She advises against sole reliance on children, as they often have their own financial struggles. Instead, she encourages leaders to invest in health insurance and use their active years to mentor and transform their communities.
Her journey is a testament to strength, selflessness, and adaptability, proving that retirement is not the end, it is a new beginning. Through faith, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to service, Canon Jolly continues to inspire and uplift generations.
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©Blurb written by Divine Karungi
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CLICK HERE To Listen to her story
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