Mary Kisaka

A Ugandan educator and activist who championed women's education and social reform in East Africa.

Mary Kisaka (1900–1980) was a Ugandan educator and social reformer who dedicated her life to advancing women's rights and education in colonial and post-colonial Uganda. Born in the Buganda Kingdom, she witnessed the limited opportunities for women in her community and became a vocal advocate for girls' schooling. In the 1930s, she established the first girls' school in her region, the Mukono Girls' School, which provided education to girls from marginalized backgrounds. Her efforts expanded in the 1950s when she co-founded the Uganda Women's League, an organization that lobbied for women’s suffrage and access to healthcare. Mary also worked closely with local leaders to challenge discriminatory practices, such as polygamy and gender-based violence. During Uganda’s independence movement, she collaborated with figures like Sir Apollo Kagwa to ensure women’s voices were heard in national politics. Her later years focused on promoting literacy and vocational training for rural women. Mary’s contributions were recognized by the Ugandan government, which posthumously awarded her the Order of the Burning Spear for her social impact. Learn more at UWEZO or Wikipedia.