Former Minister of Education and Sports Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, fondly remembered as “Mama UPE”, will be laid to rest on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at her ancestral home in Butambala–Kibugga, Masaka.
Bitamazire passed away on January 14, 2026, at the age of 84, leaving behind a towering legacy that reshaped Uganda’s education system and opened classroom doors for millions of children.
According to the family funeral programme, the farewell ceremonies will unfold as follows:
Monday, January 19, 2026
A requiem mass was held at Our Lady of Fatima, Kansanga Parish starting at 2:00 PM, followed by a vigil at her Kansanga–Kiwafu residence.
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Another requiem mass will take place at Lubaga Cathedral at 10:00 AM. Mourners will later proceed to Butambala for an overnight vigil at the family home.
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
The final burial mass will be held at 10:00 AM in Butambala–Kibugga, after which Bitamazire will be laid to rest.
Born on July 17, 1941, in Butambala, Bitamazire’s journey began at Trinity College Nabbingo before advancing to Makerere University, where she earned a Diploma in Education, a Bachelor of Arts, and later a Master’s degree.
She started her career as a teacher and later made history as the first African headteacher of Tororo Girls School a breakthrough moment that signaled her rise in public service.
Her resume spanned decades of national leadership:
- Senior Education Officer in the Ministry of Education
- Deputy Chairperson of the Teaching Service Commission
- State Minister and later Minister of Education and Sports
- Woman MP for Mpigi District
But it was her role in championing Universal Primary Education (UPE) that cemented her place in history. The programme revolutionized access to education nationwide, earning her the enduring title “Mama UPE.”
Bitamazire also served on the UN Commission on the Status of Women, was a founding member of the Forum for African Women Educationalists, and later became Chancellor of Uganda Management Institute.
Since news of her passing broke, tributes have flooded in from government officials, educators, former students, and citizens across the country. Many credit her with transforming generations through her relentless passion for education and national development.
As Uganda prepares to lay her to rest, the nation remembers a woman whose impact will forever echo in every classroom that once opened its doors because of her vision.
Rest in peace, Mama UPE. Your legacy lives on.