Footprints Podcast | Season 1 | Episode 2 | Unyielding Faith

In this episode of the Footprints Podcast, Mrs. Joyie Mugarura, a dedicated wife and mother, recounts her life story, from a childhood deeply anchored in Christianity to demonstrating commendable integrity in a corrupt workplace, and her adeptness at managing her household while supporting her husband and community. Known affectionately as Auntie Joy, she stands as a beacon of leadership and an inspiration to women through her story of strength and faith.
From her early years, Auntie Joy was instilled with a strong belief in God, influenced by her father, a church teacher who embedded the importance of faith in her daily life. He also emphasized education, ensuring she attended Nyakasura Secondary School following her earlier schooling, and later, she earned a diploma from a veterinary school in Entebbe. After working for a year, she married and relocated to Kampala due to a job transfer. She then moved to Canada with her scholarship-recipient husband and spent five years there as a stay-at-home mom to their five children. Upon returning to Uganda, she began working at the Ministry of Animal Resources while her husband served under the Archbishop in Namirembe.
Adjusting to life back in Uganda was challenging, particularly with the limited income from their jobs and the pervasive corruption at her workplace. Opting to maintain her moral standards, Auntie Joy resigned from her position to focus on her children, often left alone due to her and her husband's demanding schedules. She started a baking business at home during this period.
Auntie Joy remained on her employer's payroll until the International Monetary Fund's downsizing directive took effect, receiving a final paycheck of two million Uganda shillings. Around this time, her husband became the Chaplain at Saint Francis Chapel, Makerere, marking a new chapter where her leadership truly flourished. Facing the challenge of managing on a single income, she managed the household finances meticulously.
Recognizing the importance of securing a home before her husband's retirement, she strategically saved and used the two million shillings from her final paycheck to buy land in Ruhweza. She also bought a kiosk in Kiseka and land in Wakiso, where over seven years, they gradually built their home. Despite setbacks, including being swindled in a land deal and facing scepticism from the construction crew, her resilience and shrewdness proved crucial in establishing their retirement home and sustaining the family through financial hardships. As she often says, “You need to be tough.”
Auntie Joy also played a significant role in supporting her husband's church work, opening their home for community teaching and outreach to the needy. By her husband's retirement, the family was well-prepared for the transition, thanks to her foresight and adaptability.
Auntie Joy's journey underscores the values of faith and morality, showcasing her honourable leadership as she chose integrity and diligence over deceit in a challenging world. Her story exemplifies true leadership, demonstrating how adaptability and wise resource management can overcome obstacles and lead to fulfilling transitions.
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