This installment of the Footprints Podcast explores the remarkable journey of Bisi Adeleye Fayemi, feminist thinker, advocate, and leader. Her passion for change, vision for women’s empowerment, and strength of values have shaped policies, transformed lives, and advanced the rights of African women globally. As First Lady of Ekiti State, she redefined leadership through compassion, advocacy, and bold legislative action.

Refined as a reader and writer from an early age, thanks to her father’s rigorous essay assignments, Bisi grew into a confident, articulate young woman. The debates that followed her writing nurtured her critical thinking and sharpened her voice as a leader. From her mother, she learned the importance of generosity and using one’s platform to uplift others.

She studied History at Obafemi Awolowo University, where she met her husband. After returning to England in 1988, she earned a Master's in Gender and Equality at Middlesex University. She held early jobs as a sandwich maker and civil servant before joining Akina Mama wa Afrika in 1991. There, she launched initiatives supporting African women inmates, championed mental health awareness, and co-founded the Black Women in Europe Network.

Determined to extend this impact to the continent, Bisi co-founded The African Women's Leadership Institute (AWLI)
in Uganda in 1996, alongside Stella Mukasa. The initiative empowered young African women with tools to challenge patriarchy and lead transformative change. Its success led to expansion in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.

As co-founder and first Executive Director of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), she revolutionized feminist philanthropy in Africa, supporting grassroots women’s organizations with critical funding and visibility.

Her transition to political life came in 2010 when she became First Lady of Ekiti State. With a well-planned exit from AWDF, she stepped into public office ready to act. In that role, she pushed for progressive legislation, including a gender-based violence law, mental health and HIV protection bills, and shelter systems for women and girls in distress. She also promoted human rights education and policy reform.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bisi worked with other first ladies to declare an “Indefinite State of Emergency” against rising sexual violence. This advocacy helped secure gender protection laws in nearly every Nigerian state.

Now in retirement, Bisi mentors and coaches women in leadership, legacy building, and personal growth. Through her books, Where is Your Wrapper? and Demand and Supply, she continues to amplify women’s voices and advocate for justice. Her legacy is a call to leaders: remain rooted in purpose, resilient through change, and committed to doing what’s right, no matter the season.

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© Blurb written byDivine Karungi

For more on CivSourceAfrica's Change Ready Initiative, click here:https://www.civsourceafrica.com/change-ready

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Many people do not realize that life is about doing your best to thrive with the resources at your immediate disposal. This episode of the Footprints Podcast explores the journey of Samuel Kazibwe as he shares his story of valour in the face ofunsolicited afflictions and the actions that were pivotal to his livelihood, along with his wisdom on how to navigate unforeseen transitions.

Amid a sea of memories, Samuel vividly recalls the lessons on selling food items like maize and coffee, which he learned from his uncle. These lessons equipped him with skills that later sustained his work and livelihood in an uncertain world of work. The second-born of seven children, Samuel was born and raised in the rural area of Butalaga. He was a sickly child and, as a result, was frequently absent from school during his primary years. After completing Primary Seven, he began trading in maize and fish before deciding to go to the capital city, Kampala, in search of more remunerative work due to his circumstances.

In Kawempe, Kampala, he worked at a Greek-owned bakery where his natural talent for arithmetic led to a promotion to head of distribution. This position gave him the opportunityto learn how to drive, as he observed and emulated the bakery driver. This skill eventually opened the door to his work as a special hire driver and, later, a twenty-five-year career with the Federation of Women Lawyers in Uganda (FIDA Uganda).

At FIDA, Samuel learned about violence in communities and the legislation surrounding domestic relations. He contributed to sensitization efforts around women’s rights and encouraged men to collaborate in the legal processes at FIDA during his time there. While driving the lawyers to legal outreach clinics, he sought permission from Resident District Commissioners regarding their work in target communities to facilitate the organization’s initiatives to aid women in those areas.

Unfortunately, Samuel was given a three-month notice of his impending layoff from the organization at a time when he least expected it. The prospect of living without a monthlystipend was unfamiliar, an experience common to many facing the inevitable transition into retirement. It was all the more jarring for him, as he did not receive any retirement benefits after many years of service. However, he resolved to use the three months at his disposal to economize and prioritize settling his family. Using his savings from fieldwork and outreach programs at FIDA, he set up his own residence back in his home area and established a subsistence farmwith his wife, which has kept the family self-reliant in his retirement.

Samuel explains that he is deeply grateful for the opportunities he had to learn from his uncle, whose wisdom instilled in him the values of hard work and perception, both as a food vendor and a driver. He learned to be resourceful by using the land and the money he had to manage his sudden transition to retirement. He emphasizes that one of the greatest necessities in retirement is food, making self-reliance crucial. He advises others to prepare for retirement early and to live below their means in order to save for the future.

Samuel Kazibwe’s story highlights the importance of using the resources at one’s disposal in the best way possible to thrive, regardless of one’s circumstances.

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© Blurb written by Divine Karungi

For more on CivSource Africa's Change Ready Initiative, click here: https://www.civsourceafrica.com/change-ready

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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

For more on CivSource Africa's Change Ready Initiative, click here: https://www.civsourceafrica.com/change-ready

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We bring you an episode of the Footprints Podcast featuring the legendary Dr. James Rwehabura Tumusiime. The scientist-turned-cartoonist-turned-editor-turned-media revolutionary narrates his journey as a leader, a journey rooted in culture, perseverance, and innovation that has left an indelible mark on Uganda's mass communication sector.

Dr. James narrates his time as a high school student at Mbarara High School and King’s College Budo, where he excelled at science and, as such, pursued a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Economics at Makerere University. He worked as a planning officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries for five years until the coup when Milton Obote was ousted by Idi Amin Dada for the presidency.

Fleeing to Nairobi due to witch-hunting in Uganda, he picked up several skills and qualifications along the way that proved fundamental in his journey. He studied for his master’s degree; however, he still did not acquire a job related to agriculture in Kenya. He bravely ventured into the art sector and started drawing cartoons as well as comic strips, which he took to mainstream media like newspapers. He pioneered this nouveau prospect in the East African setting with characters and stories that were relatable to the social and cultural context of East Africa. He became popular under his pseudonyms, ‘Ekanya’ and ‘Bogi Benda.’

In 1986, Dr. James returned to Uganda, which was under the regime of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), led by President Museveni. He contributed to the founding of The New Vision Newspaper and served as Editor-in-Chief for eleven years before he retired. It is impressive how he went on to start Fountain Publishers in 1988, to promote literacy through both school-based and conventional books, becoming the first local publishinghouse in Uganda. Dr. James' vision to preserve the long-standing history and tradition of his country through books has played a pivotal role in the expansion of Uganda's media sector, with a predilection to cater to the human condition.

Notably, he also started the National Book Trust of Uganda (NABOTU) in 1997, the first local language-based radio station, 100.2 FM Radio West, in 1998, and founded the Igongo Cultural Centre in 2008, becoming a ‘job powerhouse’ for editors, artists, and musicians. His achievements demystified the precept that expansive establishments like his own can only be set up by foreigners or the government, inspiring young entrepreneurs in Uganda.

Dr. James states that his journey has been arduous at times; from political persecution to financial challenges at the time when the government withdrew funding, he had to be persistent as an individual, as well as a leader to his team. He shares lessons from his leadership, such as the significance of finding clarity and purpose. He utilizes ‘The 7 M’s’ to elaborate on the level of planning and foresightedness every leader must adopt to survive hardships and succeed, which includes money to finance a given cause, methods of execution, and clarity of purpose in every mission, among others. He emphasizes that leaders must be expectant of change and willing to adapt to it.

With a passion for his country and culture, Dr. James continues his work to liberate and inform people through literacy at Fountain Publishers today. His purposefulness and ability to try new things and bounce back amidst transition are critical.

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©Blurb written by Divine Karungi

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Everjoice Win - A Journey of Resilience and Leadership

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Everjoice

Despite dreaming of careers as a teacher, nurse, or air hostess, Everjoice found herself navigating a vastly different path. After earning her first degree and feeling unfulfilled teaching English and history, she ventured into economics, only to realize her true passion lay in writing and literature. Her life took a pivotal turn when she met Terry, a researcher

Everjoice’s heart-wrenching stories of the women she

Throughout our conversation, Everjoice reflects on the

Join us as Everjoice Win shares her extraordinary

Tune in and discover how even the smallest actions can ripple into monumental transformations, reminding us that together, we are more powerful than we realize.

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©Blurb written by Divine Karungi

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For more information on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠CivSource Africa's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Change

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In this captivating follow up episode, we dive deeper into the life and legacy of Honourable Professor Morris Ogenga Latigo a leader whose resilience and compassion have profoundly impacted Ugandan politics and education. Prof. Latigo invites us to journey through his life, from growing up in Agago with his close-knit family to his rise in academia, where he inspired and supported young scholars on their paths.

As he reflects on advocating for Northern Uganda during challenging times, building critical infrastructure, and standing for truth amidst opposition, Prof. Latigo offers wisdom on leadership: “What marked your time?” and “You cannot force

Now retired and turning to agriculture, Prof. Latigo continues to sow seeds of progress. His message to today’s leaders is clear: embrace mentorship, openness, and change, for “true leadership lies in the legacy we leave behind.”

Listen in to be inspired by a journey that transcends titles, showing how one life can fuel a brighter future for generations.

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©Blurb written by Divine Karungi

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This episode of the Footprints Podcast features the inspiring journey of Honorable Professor Morris Ogenga Latigo, whose life story embodies the power of transformation when courageous individuals take action. With warmth and humility, he shares the highs and lows of his career, offering words of wisdom for leaders in every capacity.

Born in 1952, in Agago, Professor Morris grew up deeply connected to his parents. He fondly recalls the love and lessons they imparted, his mother’s special dish, "malakwang," and the early sense of responsibility he learned from working alongside his father in the family shop. These simple, yet meaningful moments laid the foundation for his later success.

A brilliant student, Professor Morris advanced quickly, skipping primary one and excelling in his studies. He thrived at Sir Samuel Baker Secondary School and later pursued Crop Science at university. His passion for knowledge led him to earn a Master’s in Zoology from the University of Nairobi and a PhD, propelling him into academia where he quickly rose to head the Faculty of Agriculture at Makerere University.

But what truly stands out is not just his academic achievements, but his heart for others. Professor Morris took it upon himself to support his students, even personally funding the education of three who are now proud successors in academia. His commitment to empowering others extended far beyond the classroom. He used a grant to build the first dormitory for girls in Saint Charles College Kalongo, opening doors for future generations.

Before he ever entered elective politics, Professor Morris was already advocating for his people. His articles, such as ‘Why must the Acholi suffer so much?’ during the dark times of the Atiak Massacre, demonstrated his belief that leadership isn’t about holding a title it’s about standing up for those in need. This same dedication later saw him serve as the Member of Parliament for Agago North County, where he worked tirelessly to bring electricity to underserved regions, among other achievements.

As one of the founders of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and later as the Leader of the Opposition, Professor Morris’s leadership was marked by integrity and truth. He didn’t shy away from telling it like it was, whether exposing gaps in Universal Primary Education (UPE) or holding the government accountable on national revenue. He always did so with a calm, level-headed approach that inspired respect, even in the most challenging circumstances.

Upon retirement, Professor Morris found fulfillment in agriculture, a reminder that true leadership extends beyond the office. His story serves as a powerful example of how leaders can continue to thrive and make an impact long after they’ve transitioned from their formal roles.

In his reflections, Professor Morris emphasizes the importance of mentorship and openness to change, advising leaders to be "change ready." He believes a true legacy is one of progress, where the next generation builds on the foundation of those who came before them. His message is simple yet profound: leadership isn’t just about the here and now it’s about preparing others to carry the torch forward.

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©Blurb written by Divine Karungi

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For more information on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ CivSource Africa's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Change

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In this episode of the Footprints podcast, Reverend Canon Diana Mirembe Nkesiga, known as Rev. D, shares her journey as a Christian leader and her reflections on retirement. She recounts how she transformed from a diffident girl into an outspoken woman of credence. Born

Rev. D’s leadership journey began when she was appointed class monitor in Senior One, learning responsibility and self-awareness through the mentorship of older girls in her Christian fellowships. She identified compassion and altruism as her fortes, which guided

After the Bush War, many girls confided in her about their traumatic experiences, which left her distraught, as she had always taught them that God would be their protector—a belief that seemed inadequate during their time of need. Seeking solace in the scriptures, Rev. D found peace and hoped that the girls would also find healing from their past ordeals. This led her to pursue Theology at Bishop Tucker Theological College, becoming a deacon in 1991 and an ordained priest in the Anglican Church in 1994.

As a missionary in South Africa during the height of the HIV epidemic, Rev. D learned the importance of “The Listening Gospel,” realizing that leaders in the Church cannot simply judge from the pulpit but must listen and walk with the people. She became an advocate for

Upon returning to Uganda, Rev. D served as the Vicar of All Saints’ Cathedral Kampala from 2007 to 2018 and later as the Associate Chaplain at Saint Francis Chaplain Kabanyoro. However, her journey was not without challenges. She faced discouragement as an administrator and experienced secondary trauma from her work at the AIDS Haven, leading her to seek the support of a psychologist.

The most devastating trial of all was the death of her husband. Rev. D shares her grief as a woman, mother, and leader, initially engulfed in denial before coming to terms with this major life change. She retired from the clergy a few years after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rev. D candidly discusses the fears surrounding transition, especially into retirement, including concerns about

Rev. D’s journey as a Christian woman is both uplifting and educational for young leaders, emphasizing the importance of discovering your gifts early, using them to transform lives in society, learning from challenges, planning carefully, and understanding that self-love is essential to serving others.

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©Blurb written by Divine Karungi

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For more information on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ CivSource Africa's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Change

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If we all knew that one act of benevolence could mold altruistic leaders, we might sow those seeds more often, changing the world for the better. In this episode of the Footprints Podcast, we explore the life of Bruno Joseph Bwambale, a leader with a heart for his people. With his son, Francis Musinguzi, he shares his journey as a working man who triumphed despite many challenges.

From a humble background, Bruno lost his father at two and was raised by his mother, a cotton farmer. A devout Catholic, he excelled in school but sold fish to afford his education. Antonio Kibwana's generosity changed his life by paying his school fees. Fleeing the Rwenzururu Rebellion, he completed high school at Saint Mary’s College Kisubi.

Bruno faced further hardship with his mother’s death but advanced his education, earning a diploma in Cooperative Studies. He worked in Nyakatonzi Cotton Growers and the Uganda Corporate Central Union, where he promoted sustainable farming.

Running for political office in the 1980s, he faced religious discrimination but continued serving his community through church work and founding schools in Kasese. He also empowered women through the Saint Clare Women’s Group.

Recognized as the best farmer during President Milton Obote’s regime, Bruno studied farming at the University of Minnesota. He later helped local farmers establish their own farms.

Bruno's journey, marked by resilience and generosity, shows the importance of adaptability and selflessness in leadership. His life teaches us that leadership is about using opportunities to support the well-being of others.

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©Blurb written by Divine Karungi

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For more information on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ CivSource Africa's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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"Understanding our history is crucial to knowing our

In this episode of Footprints, we delve into ninety-five years of rich experience and wisdom with Mrs. Rhoda Kalema, affectionately known as Jjajja Rhoda. She takes us through her extraordinary leadership journey, reflecting on her early life, political career, and relentless advocacy for women's rights. From her formative years growing up in a rapidly changing society, Jjajja Rhoda shares stories of resilience and determination, offering a unique perspective on the evolution of women's roles in both the political and social spheres.

Her insights into the political landscape of her time reveal a tapestry of challenges and triumphs, illustrating how her unwavering commitment to justice and equality shaped her path. As a trailblazer in advocating for women's rights, Jjajja Rhoda's tireless efforts have left an indelible mark on her community and beyond. Her stories are not just a recounting of past events but a testament to the power of faith, courage, and perseverance.

Throughout her journey, she emphasizes the importance of understanding our history to navigate the complexities of our present. Her unshakeable faith served as her anchor through numerous life changes, providing her with the strength to overcome obstacles and inspire others. Join us as we explore the profound lessons from Jjajja Rhoda's life, gaining invaluable insights into the enduring struggle for gender equality and the vital role of historical awareness in shaping our future.

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©Blurb written by Divine Karungi

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