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The late Hon. Karooro Okurut as Mother Hen
She may have been Mother Hen to many, but her greatest legacy is the countless lives she nurtured, protected and shaped with a love that knew no boundaries. Her nest may be quiet now, but the lives she touched will forever carry the warmth of her wings.
The late Mary Karooro Okurut. (File)
By: Admin ., Journalist @New Vision
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OPINION
By Alvin Agaba Kabahizi
Everyone knows how much Mother Hen contributed to the nation; she did many amazing things with so much love and devotion, and she certainly taught us a bit of something about leadership and being humble in that sector of life; one of her principles was to ‘’NEVER OUTSHINE THE MASTER’’ and she made those above her feel comfortably superior. In her desire to please and impress them, she did not go too far in displaying her talents, or she could have accomplished the opposite — inspired fear and insecurity. She recognised her master’s brilliance and attained the heights of power in her lifetime.
Mother Hen and Hawk is a beloved traditional fable (often known as The Hawk and the Hen), originating from various cultures, particularly throughout Africa and parts of Asia. It is used to explain why hawks are always seen circling the sky and swooping down to snatch up chicks, as well as why a mother hen is so fiercely protective of her chicks and constantly gathers them under her wings for safety and warmth. Personally, as one of the winds beneath her wings, I can only say so much.
There was a side of her that many people did not know. The side of being a loving and protective parent, not just to her bloodline, but also to other people from different tribes, nationalities and races. No one ever owned her because she belonged to all of us. “No one prepared her for just how much love she would have for her family and nation because it was overwhelming at the end.”
She worked tirelessly but always put her family first (aunties, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends, etc. To her, that was family), because she was the true heartbeat of the community. She gracefully balanced the heavy demands of her daily work with a fierce, protective love for her family even after a long, exhausting day. Her energy reset the moment her family needed comfort, guidance or her presence.
She was the ultimate protector, the steady provider and the quiet anchor who sacrificed her own rest to ensure her family thrives. She worked through the morning light and the late-night hours, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, yet she never let exhaustion show. Taught us that money is like blood; blood is like water; it flows towards you, it comes and goes; hence family should always come first.
There was a side of her that many people did not know. The side of being a loving and protective parent, not just to her bloodline, but also to other people from different tribes, nationalities and races. No one ever owned her because she belonged to all of us. “No one prepared her for just how much love she would have for her family and nation because it was overwhelming at the end.”
She worked tirelessly but always put her family first (aunties, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends, etc. To her, that was family), because she was the true heartbeat of the community. She gracefully balanced the heavy demands of her daily work with a fierce, protective love for her family even after a long, exhausting day. Her energy reset the moment her family needed comfort, guidance or her presence.
She was the ultimate protector, the steady provider and the quiet anchor who sacrificed her own rest to ensure her family thrives. She worked through the morning light and the late-night hours, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, yet she never let exhaustion show. Taught us that money is like blood; blood is like water; it flows towards you, it comes and goes; hence family should always come first.
To the world, she was a force of hard work and dedication and to family, she was shelter, warmth and pure love. No matter how demanding the days became, her first thoughts were “her truest devotion belonged to her family’’. She was the mother hen who protected her nest fiercely, ensuring every need was met before she even thought of her own nest. I want to take this opportunity to thank all the men and women who have or are still raising children they did not birth, but loving them like they are their own, and that’s a different kind of love. That is chosen and earned day to day, sacrifice after sacrifice, even when sometimes it’s a love that is not returned. You may not be credited for it, but you would have played a role in shaping the child’s life, and that’s what is most important.
Some will grow up and understand, some will forget or erase what you did, and some will rewrite history; not every child will give you the same love back. “Do not at any one moment think that you are wasting time pouring out love, devotion, care and provision’’ because love given freely without expectations is never wasted. Hold your head up high and be proud of yourself because you are doing what most people wouldn’t do. One can only give birth to a person, not a heart.
Speaking as one of many that Mother Hen natured; We may not have been born from her womb, but she certainly understood our souls, and that is unconditional love. We will always be grateful for the time we shared together and have learnt how to be strong, loving, kind and empathetic to others. An anchor as she truly was, even when we didn’t know half of what she was going through, but still helped us see our values and purpose in life. Her life was a blessing, and her memory is a treasure. We learnt that family is about love, not just DNA; by being a mother to many, irrespective of tribe, religion or nationality, which became her sigel and proof that legacies are born. How blessed could I have been to be called one of her own.
Thank you for putting your family and nation at the centre of your universe.
This article was written in collaboration with Uganda Women Writers Association (FEMRITE)
Some will grow up and understand, some will forget or erase what you did, and some will rewrite history; not every child will give you the same love back. “Do not at any one moment think that you are wasting time pouring out love, devotion, care and provision’’ because love given freely without expectations is never wasted. Hold your head up high and be proud of yourself because you are doing what most people wouldn’t do. One can only give birth to a person, not a heart.
Speaking as one of many that Mother Hen natured; We may not have been born from her womb, but she certainly understood our souls, and that is unconditional love. We will always be grateful for the time we shared together and have learnt how to be strong, loving, kind and empathetic to others. An anchor as she truly was, even when we didn’t know half of what she was going through, but still helped us see our values and purpose in life. Her life was a blessing, and her memory is a treasure. We learnt that family is about love, not just DNA; by being a mother to many, irrespective of tribe, religion or nationality, which became her sigel and proof that legacies are born. How blessed could I have been to be called one of her own.
Thank you for putting your family and nation at the centre of your universe.
This article was written in collaboration with Uganda Women Writers Association (FEMRITE)