As the sun rises over Mafudu village in Sironko District, Uganda, Mama Angelina Wapakhabulo is already busy with her daily routine, tending to her poultry. The air is filled with the joyful sounds of her clucking hens, Guinea fowls and ducks as she feeds them, coaxing them with affectionate calls. Dressed in a floral blue kaftan and a pink headwrap, a symbol of her Tanzanian roots, Mama Angelina embodies the spirit of nurturing both nature and community.
Mama Angelina, a former ambassador to Kenya and the wife of the late Ugandan politician James Wapakhabulo, has lived a life dedicated to service. Her late husband, remembered as one of Uganda’s most eloquent speakers, served as Speaker of Parliament and held various other governmental roles before passing away in 2004. After his death, Mama Angelina retired to their country home in Mafudu.
Born in Tanzania in 1949, Mama Angelina pursued her education at the University of Dar es Salaam, where she first encountered the Red Cross and became fascinated by its activities, particularly blood donation. However, it wasn’t until 2001 that she became directly involved with the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS), after meeting Robert Kwesiga, the URCS Secretary General, in Kampala. At the time, she was running a conference and events company and didn’t immediately see the value in organizing charity events.
“I don’t do events and conferences for charity,” she recalls telling Mr. Kwesiga. “I don’t think you can afford me, but let me think about it.”
After consulting friends, including Camille Aliker, Mama Angelina realized that the Red Cross didn’t need to pay her for a fundraising event. She gathered other women, including business leaders and ministers’ wives, who enthusiastically supported the idea. The event was a success, and over time, it grew into an annual dinner fundraiser for the Uganda Red Cross.
This event laid the foundation for the creation of the Uganda Red Cross Goodwill Ambassadors, a group of women including Mama Angelina, Mrs. Joseline Rugunda, Ms. Crystal Newman, and Mrs. Susan Katureebe, who have since raised significant funds to support initiatives like keeping girls in school through the provision of sanitary pads.
As International Women’s Day (IWD) approaches on March 8, 2025, under the theme “Accelerate Action,” Mama Angelina reflects on the importance of active participation in promoting gender equality and serving humanity. She believes that all, regardless of age, should engage in meaningful actions, from volunteering to leading by example in their communities.
“Let us all be participants, not just observers, at every level,” she advises. “If your grandchildren see you giving whatever little you have towards humanity, they will carry that forward.”
Now retired but never tired, Mama Angelina continues her work as a Uganda Red Cross Society Goodwill Ambassador and vice-chairman of the Integrity and Compliance Committee. She remains deeply committed to fighting HIV/AIDS and caring for orphans and vulnerable children, serving on various NGO boards and leaving a lasting legacy of compassion and service in Uganda.