Rebecca Allen Namugenze Mukasa also known as Rebecca Mulira was a Ugandan women’s rights advocate and social activist born in Mengo Hospital on 14 May. She played an integral role advancing gender equality despite facing significant patriarchal resistance. As a lifelong advocate dedicated to equal rights and opportunities for women, Mulira helped strengthen their political participation and representation in society through visionary advocacy initiatives.

“I feel privileged to honour a very distinguished Ugandan. Mulira led a very rich and active life. we all know her achievements in women’s organizations. Mrs. Mulira also played a significant role in the Buganda royal family,” Kabaka Mutebi, King of Buganda said of the pioneering champion for women’s empowerment and social justice in Uganda.

Rebecca Mulira and other women activists were greatly involved and instrumental in the return of Ssekabaka Muteesa II from exile in 1955. Through many different action including protests and writing open letters to the colonial government, she fought for the end of colonialism, the respect of the Nnabagereka, the return of the Kabaka as well as the creation of political opportunities for women. Following Muteesa’s deportation, women exhibited distress throughout Buganda and as early as January 1954, Mulira initiated various campaigns throughout Buganda to guarantee the end of the Kabaka’s exile. With 4 other women, Mulira warned Bishop Leslie Brown that the Kabaka’s deportation might result in bloodshed and stated that’ “the British Government had not right in all justice, to force his separation from us, without the previous unanimous consent of his people.” By the end of January, Mulira with 24 women petitioned the then governor of Uganda, reminding him that the Kabaka’s authority derived from the consent of the people and the Church, not the colonial government. The following day, she mobilized 3 buses of women to protest before Governor Cohen and as a result women were front and centre in securing the Kabaka’s return from exile.

Amid the re-emergence of Uganda’s kingdoms, Mulira courageously advocated for expanded women’s inclusion within the traditionally male-dominated Buganda monarchy. She advocated abolishing discriminatory laws and customs that inhibited women’s inheritance, property ownership, and political voice. Through principled nonviolent action alongside grassroots women’s associations she helped found, Mulira applied steady pressure that ultimately yielded landmark reforms establishing equal citizenship.

Beyond the Buganda kingdom, Mulira worked tirelessly at the national level promoting women’s leadership across government, business, and civic participation. Rebecca Mulira was unique woman right from her birth and she contributed a great deal towards the advancement of women in Uganda through leadership of such organizations as the multi-cultural Uganda Council of Women, the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) and Family Planning Association of Uganda. She served as a founding member of influential organizations like the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers, the Uganda Women’s Network and Mulira was among the founding members of the Pan African Women’s Organization, where she worked to amplify women’s voices and platform their diverse issues. Holding workshops, public dialogues, and legal trainings in remote communities, Mulira worked to strengthen rural women’s empowerment, livelihood opportunities, and protections against domestic abuse.

Even as she faced threats to her safety, Mulira persevered with grace, wisdom, and strategic nonviolence. She leaves an enduring legacy as one of Uganda’s most impactful early advocates for establishing women’s inherent rights, dignity, and full inclusion in decisions shaping their lives, communities, and country.

She was made a Vice-president of the LegCo in 1961 and Rebecca used this position to influence Ugandan affairs particularly exercising her efforts to improve and elevate the status of women in Uganda. Among her numerous contributions, she was at one time a councilor in Kampala City Council and Mengo Municipality as well as being on the boards of National Housing Corporation, Housing Finance Company, Mulago Hospital and many more.

It is quite possible that were it not for the efforts of women like her and her colleagues, Uganda would not have had a woman vice-president today. In the 1950s, Mulira said it was her intention to make sure that women took part in politics as this was not the norm at the time.

Mulira helped move the needle of progress towards a more just and equitable society.