Flora Aduk

I worked with Allan Ssekamatte. We spoke a lot of sport. We argued. We laughed. We debated. We disagreed. But all through our engagements, I was always in awe of his brilliance. Allan was a marvel; a very intelligent man who had, like all of us, shortcomings. RIP Mr Simonsen.

Survival, despite the burdens of life

@asiimwe4justice Blessings to the three of you. Happy birthday

Held, Then, and Still…. “You were my first and I didn’t know what to expect. When the time came, I checked into hospital. I was in labor for two days. On the third day, the doctor had to pull you out. You were getting weak and tired in the womb. After I delivered you, you had to be taken to the neonatal intensive care for observation.” And thus began my life 56 years ago… Today, I chose to spend my birthday by having lunch with my parents. I am deeply aware that it is no small gift to still have both of them here, to sit across from them, to listen, to laugh, to remember. And for a moment, it felt like we were back there again. Just the three of us. At the very beginning. I celebrate them today For loving me. For worrying about me. For praying for me. For chastising me. For cherishing me. For leading me. For celebrating me. For being there for me through every single one of my 56 years. And today… they prayed over me again. There is something deeply grounding about being reminded where you come from. There is a pricelessness about being held, not just at the beginning of life, but all the way through it. At 56, I begin here: Held. Grounded. Ready. #GratitudeAndGrace #FamilyAndFoundation #56AndBecoming

Start your week with positive vibes. #Mondaymotivation

@DoctorGladys @budonian @uwonet @rhodankalema @ManuelaPMulondo @asiimwe4justice @CTPHuganda @GCCoffee1 @ctph_camp thanks for continuing Mama Rhoda's zeal to inspire nations

Sunday 8th March - International Women’s Day was a special one for me, with bittersweet memories of my dear mother who nurtured and supported me to follow my dreams of becoming a wildlife veterinarian and conservationist. I thank the Old Budonian’s Club for giving me the opportunity to give a talk at their first posthumous Rhoda Kalema Women’s Day Lecture, a series which began in 2008. My mother was also honored with an Old Budonian’s Club posthumous award! I was joined by my husband, Lawrence Zikusoka; my nephew, Juko Kayondo; my cousins, Greenhill Academy rector - Joy Maraka, Ssanyu Jennifer Nsibirwa, Hon. Maria Kiwanuka; and Maama’s good friend and CTPH board member, Judy Kamanyi. The two other speakers, Jeninah Nalukenge and Manuela Mulondo, who are also highly accomplished Old Budonian girls, gave engaging and inspiring speeches about their personal journeys discovering self-worth, particularly in an age of technology, social media, and AI. I reflected upon how Hon. Rhoda Kalema lived a life of purpose until the Lord called her in August 2025, sharing photos from her autobiography, “My Life is But a Weaving.” Maama always wanted to make a difference and was willing to challenge social and cultural norms to follow her dreams, from being the first girl at Budo to touch a typewriter and do the commercial course, to joining the women’s movement and empowering ordinary women, to joining politics and following her husband’s dream as a former cabinet minister and her father’s legacy as a former Katikkiro (Prime Minister of the Buganda Kingdom) by becoming among the first women Members of Parliament in Uganda. Maama Rhoda continued to encourage and mentor many women to follow in her footsteps, changing the political landscape of Uganda forever. Maama never forgot Budo, which gave her a strong foundation and confidence to compete in a man’s world of politics, where she defeated eight men to represent Kiboga District in the Constituent Assembly. Budo was among her last engagements on earth, having opened the girls’ reading room in June 2025. And the “She Budonian” magazine was one of her most exciting projects! Thank you King’s College Budo and the Old Budonian’s Club for honoring Maama and keeping her torch burning 🔥 I would like to particularly thank the Old Budonians Club members - Susan Muhoza, Andrew Kafeero, Dr Amos Mwesigwa, Helen Kawesa and Rogers Katende. May Maama Rhoda rest in peace, power, and glory.

Don't look for me on Saturday, this is where I will be. You can join me though, for an exciting experience of learning, fun and networking. #GivetoGain

OPINION: Uganda must urgently invest in GBV shelters bit.ly/4cELABv #MonitorUpdates

Happy Women's Day. #WomensDay2026 #WomenEmpowerment

Thank you @PRAU_Uganda

Congratulations colleagues!

Palmerston, Diplocat extraordinaire, passed away peacefully on 12 February. “Palmy” was a special member of the Government House team in Bermuda, and a much loved family member. He was a wonderful companion, with a gentle nature, and will be sorely missed.

Our host @f_aduk and Melanie Joyce Nabukwasi had great time of inspiring conversation and fun on #HerStory256 @mama_fm1017 .

RIP 💔 The world just lost the mathematical genius behind GPS technology. Gladys West, the mathematical titan who developed the essential foundation for GPS, has died at the age of 95. Born in 1930 in rural Virginia, West spent her childhood picking crops before a scholarship to Virginia State College launched her into a 42-year career with the U.S. Navy. As one of only four Black professionals at the Naval Proving Ground in 1956, she worked in quiet brilliance to solve the complex algorithms that account for the Earth's gravitational irregularities. Her calculations were not just academic exercises; they were the indispensable building blocks for the satellite navigation system that billions of people rely on today for everything from global shipping and aviation to daily commutes and smartphone apps. For decades, West’s monumental contributions remained a "hidden" chapter of American history, recognized only late in her life through inductions into the U.S. Air Force Hall of Fame and the prestigious Prince Philip Medal. Her legacy is one of profound perseverance, having navigated the systemic barriers of the Jim Crow South to redefine how we perceive and navigate our planet. Though her work powers the digital maps on every smartphone, she famously retained a personal preference for paper maps, a humble nod to her roots and the physical world she spent a lifetime mapping. West passed away peacefully surrounded by family, leaving behind a world that is infinitely more connected and precise because of her brilliant mind. Source: NPR. (2026). Gladys West, mathematician whose work paved the way for GPS, dies at 95.

Do you know the legal protections afforded to journalists? As we prepare for #UgandaDecides2026 here are some guidelines you will need bit.ly/4suOFt8 #SafetyTipsForJournalistsCoveringElections

May the spirit of Christmas fill your homes.

Because building resilience in journalism also means creating spaces for reflection, collegiality, and shared moments—on and off the microphone. Why not a photo outside?😁 @f_aduk @janajwang @EMaractho #UgandaMediaWeek #BuildingResilience #IndependentJournalism #MediaDialogue

Powerful conversations at #UgandaMediaWeek2025 📰🇺🇬 A dynamic panel unpacking media resilience, press freedom, and the role of independent journalism in strengthening democracy. The dialogue continues. 💬 #IndependentJournalism #MediaAndDemocracy #UMW2025

The environment that the media operates in is the least desired. What do we do? This and many more are being unpacked at the Uganda Media Week 2025. Join us via: youtube.com/live/jHBMXAwkk…

"The exploitation of journalists under that guise that journalism is passion is a joke! This is an internal problem. Why do you treat your journalists worse than anyone in society and yet ask them to hold people to account?-@tbutagira #UgMediaweek2025 Who will bell the cat?

"We need to market journalism as a public good. We need to elevate this conversation....what do people like about us?" Tabu Butagira, Journalist and Editor. #tndNews #UgMediaweek2025