Mbale, (UG):- Sr. Mary Wasagali, armed with the Bible in her hand and her community psychology skills in her mind, was able to preach the NRM gospel in Sironko District. By the time President Museveni appointed her to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) as a member, the NRM party had recaptured the district council and parliamentary seats from the stronghold of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
Due to her influence, NRM councillors in Sironko rose from 15% (during the 2011–2016 tenure) to over 80% (in the 2016–2021 tenure). Mr. Hebert Mulekwa was also elected as the LCV chairman on the NRM ticket, thanks to the mobilization tactics of Reverend Sr. Mary Wasagali.
Armed with her training in community psychology, which focuses on people, Sr. Mary ventured into the political arena to rescue Sironko from the dominance of FDC, which had captured the district. FDC had sent all MPs to Parliament and controlled the LCV chairmanship. Above all, 95% of the councillors were from FDC.
Disturbed by this trend, Sr. Mary, who had previously served as the NRM chairperson for Budadiri Town Council, entered the race for NRM chairperson for Sironko District. However, she was advised by her elder brother, Jude Mike Mudoma (the current Umukuka III), not to challenge Hajj Lumolo, who had also significantly contributed to the party. She agreed and was instead elected as the vice-chairperson of NRM Sironko District. In practice, however, she was the de facto chairperson due to her strong leadership qualities.
On one occasion, while President Museveni was on a mobilization tour in Sironko District, he noticed her eloquence and commitment to service, which eventually led to her appointment as a member of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC).
Sr. Mary Wasagali is the younger sister of the current cultural leader of the Inzu Ya Masaba, His Highness Jude Mudoma. He proudly states that by appointing Mary to the EOC, Masabaland has sent one of its finest, an incorruptible and humble individual.
Fondly referred to as “Sr. Mary” in Sironko, she is a trained religious leader and community psychologist. She has served in various capacities, including as the in-charge of the Kenyatta Hospital Surgical Ward in Kenya. Upon returning to Uganda, she lectured as an adjunct professor of community psychology at Uganda Martyrs University (UMU).
Her academic journey includes nursing training at Lira Nursing School, and she holds a master’s degree in psychology. Sironko District entrusted her with a position on the District Service Commission due to her politeness, amiable nature, ethical considerations, and academic credentials.
At around 59 years of age, Sr. Mary has also served as NRM chairperson for Budadiri Town Council. Those who studied with her recall her as a brilliant individual, with many of her qualifications earned magna cum laude. Her research, which called for a permanent stop to violence against women, titled Violence Against African Women, was widely published and even featured on Amazon.
Her 2021 appointment to the EOC by President Yoweri Museveni was a fitting choice, as the commission is designed to address disparities affecting various communities and marginalized groups.
Sr. Mary’s service at the EOC extends beyond Uganda. With her conflict resolution skills rooted in community psychology and her religious background, she has successfully united families on the brink of collapse. She is often seen across Uganda resolving family disputes, a core mandate of the EOC.
In Magale Town Council, Namisindwa District, when children attempted to strangle their mother over land disputes, Sr. Mary was there to mediate and restore peace. In Mbale, she intervened when deaf students at a school were being mistreated by their headmistress, who was also a nun. Sr. Mary recommended the headmistress’s transfer, which the Ministry of Education promptly executed.
In Mbale City, where conflicts arose between the acting city education officer and the town clerk over alleged mismanagement in the education department, Sr. Mary was petitioned to step in.
Looking ahead, Sr. Mary has ambitious plans for Masabaland as a member of the EOC. She hopes to establish both regional and district offices to bring services closer to the people and address challenges that hinder progress. She emphasizes the constitutional mandate of the EOC, ensuring that widows are not evicted from their matrimonial homes, men and women have equal employment opportunities, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are protected from discrimination.
Sr. Mary Wasagali is also fluent in several languages, including English, Latin, Spanish, Kiswahili, Hindi, and Chinese, and speaks each with precision. Masabaland holds great hope in her, a sentiment shared by thousands of Bamasaba people.
The writer is a researcher and legal scholar in Mbale. Tel: 0782231577.
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