KARA AUGUST 2011 ISSUE.indd

PERSPECTIVE
organisations. Some of the countries she
has worked in include Tanzania, Papua
New Guinea and Australia. She holds
a bachelors honours degree from the
University of Dar-es-salaam and masters in
educational administration from Queensland
University in Australia.
While studying at the University of Dares-salaam
she met a Ugandan who later
became her husband. “When I married
a Ugandan and applied for citizenship, I
felt welcomed in Uganda and empowered
to participate in all the country’s socioeconomic
and political affairs. I gave my
heart to Uganda”, she explains.
Given that her husband was a politician,
she found herself working with various
community based organizations and this
provided an opportunity for her to have a
deeper understanding of the culture and
politics of Uganda.
Since her arrival to Kenya as Uganda’s
High Commissioner, her main focus
has been on improving trade relations
and entrepreneurship between the two
countries. “I am keen to create linkages
and partnerships between Kenyan
entrepreneurs and their Ugandan
counterparts and ensuring that they exploit
of their comparative advantages.” So far up
to 20 business entrepreneurs in Kenya have
been linked to various partners in Uganda.
She is also keen to help rectify the trade
imbalance which is currently tilted in favour
of Kenya.
Mrs. Wapakhabulo rarely travels to
her country by any other means apart
from road. She believes this gives her an
opportunity to witness fi rst hand some of the
challenges the traders and transporters go
through, particularly at the borders and thus
contribute to seeking solutions to the same.
One of the greatest lessons she believes
East African countries can learn from
Kenya is the participatory and consultative
constitution making process. “As
one of the observers during the
constitution referendum last year,
I believe that Kenyans should be
proud that the exercise was fair,
transparent and democratic,”
she says. She also has kind
words regarding the ongoing
constitution implementation
process particularly the process
of vetting those aspiring to
occupy public offi ces.
While she welcomes the
integration of Eastern Africa
countries into East Africa
Community, she advises that
there is need for the countries to invest in
education and public awareness of the EAC
protocol. “The governments should also
ensure that various policies are harmonized
to ensure smooth operations and relations
between the countries,” she adds.
Personal Life
Mrs. Wapakhabulo was brought up in a
Catholic environment surrounded by nuns
and monks and this made her to admire
their lifestyle and values. She decided that
she wanted to be a nun when she grows
up. This was however not to be as when
she joined high school away from home and
subsequently college, she decided to pursue
a different career altogether.
During her free time, she loves taking a
walk around her neighbourhood as a way of
exercising. She wakes up at 5a.m. every day
and tunes into one of the local TV stations to
follow fitness exercise instructions.
Currently she is learning French to enable
her communicate to diverse groups of people
that she meets in the course of her work. She
used to play golf in Uganda and is planning
to join one of the golf clubs in Kenya soon.
She is also a philanthropist and an
active member of the Muthaiga
chapter of Rotary Club. Once in
a while she takes a glass of beer
and Uganda’s traditional brew.
She also loves dancing.
What constitutes happiness
for her? “I am happiest when
I am spending time with my
family especially grand
children and of course I
like being at peace with
God. That is my
idea of
happiness “ she explains.
The life and deeds of the late Mother
Teresa inspires her so much and politically
she considers her late husband as her
mentor. She also appreciates President
Museveni for always challenging her to
come up with solutions to her people’s
problems.
Mrs. Wapakhabulo is 62 years ‘young’
(she prefers to refer to her age that way)
and is a proud mother of four biological
children (3 boys and 1 girl) and several
others that she has taken care of over time.
She also has six grandchildren. She is the
5th born in a family of nine -four girls and
five boys.
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