Humanist

Her maiden name, of her first nation, the Bakiga, is Kamateneti. I would love to know the Bakiga cultural meaning of her name that connects her with her ancestry; but that is a story for another day.

Yes, the Bakiga are the fifth largest first nation of Uganda, numbering over 2.9 million people, according to the most recent national population census that was conducted in 2024.

Read “Population of Uganda 45.9 million” for more insights into who are the peoples of Uganda.

She, who is popularly known by her marital name, Turinawe. And yes, I would also love to know the Bakiga cultural meaning of Turinawe. However, from the Bantu sound of it, I guess it could mean “we are with you.”

She was baptised Ingrid, I assume, a name that is not mentioned in the Bible, but is reportedly of Norse origin, as derived from Ingrior, which in its Scandinavian culture means “Ing’s beauty” or “charming goddess” or “elegant lady.”

Our Ingrid is not particularly revered for the Scandinavian meaning of her name. Rather, she is popularly more known as the ballsy woman.

“Do you remember how they stole my goat which I had picked from my farm to support the Makerere University fundraising campaign? Up to today, I have never seen my goat!” Our Ingrid shared on X.

Yes, I am deliberate in using “ballsy – vulgar slang term that means to be brave, daring, or aggressively bold,” to describe her.

She is of my generation, Generation X (Gen X). We, whose early childhood was during the reign of President Idi Amin. And observed our parents navigate what, with hindsight, were completely impossible circumstances with regards to absence of rule of law.

We, Gen X, who were old enough to understand the euphoria with which President Museveni and his victorious National Resistance Army (NRA) were welcomed by the people of Uganda.

The masses elevated the NRA to the pedestal of liberators; the 26^th January is NRM Liberation Day in Uganda, case in point. Subsequently, ‘the liberators’ transformed into the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Uganda’s current ruling political party.

The military wing of the NRA was opened up, took over and merged with the existing military and transformed into the Uganda People’s Defense Forces; of which President Museveni’s son, Gen. Muhoozi, is the current Commander of the Defense Forces.

Back to our Ingrid. She is of a generation, who, through lived experiences, are in a good position to recognize and make comparisons between the current times and the times of our early childhood. And to be sensitive to what appears to be our nation going back full circle to the impossible circumstances of the past.

She is among few women leaders in Uganda, in Africa in fact, who have chosen to break free of the chains of she who is considered a ‘societal good-mannered woman’ and to be ballsy in her political activism.

Woe upon those with the propensity for misogyny who cross her path.“Useless, impotent men who think they can intimidate a woman,” is how she recently characterised one on X.

Folklore perpetuates a reverence of Bakiga to be “known for their toughness and boisterousness”; and as “arrogant” and “aggressive.” Indeed, if our Ingrid were the only Omukiga you knew, you would agree with popular folklore.

Among other characteristics of the Bakiga, in folklore, that our Ingrid embodies, are that they are “very hardworking and warrior type.” No doubt, it is the case in her execution of her political activism.

Presently, she is leading from the front, demanding for the release of political prisoners, most especially so, of Dr. Kiiza Besigye and other civilians such as he, who are incarcerated on unlawful orders of the Military Court of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.

On the streets of Kampala, Turinawe Ingrid protesting the abduction, trial before the Military Court and incarceration of Dr. Kiiza Besigy.

Read “Military Courts” for a detailed description of the jurisdiction of military courts.

The orders made by the Military Court against civilians with active cases before Military Courts have been conclusively rendered null by the Supreme Court, which ruled that the Military Court has no jurisdiction to try civilians. And ordered those cases transferred to Courts that have the jurisdiction to try them.

Read “AG v Hon. Micheal Kabaziguruka (Constitutional Appeal No. 2 of 2021) [2025]” for details of the Supreme Court Ruling.

Our Ingrid is agitating men and women in uniform with her activism, including of the Uganda Police Force. It is quite likely that not many police officers would like to be deployed to intervene whenever she is doing her thing. Asserting her right to peacefully protest.

When the Police come to stop and or arrest her, she adopts the ‘in your face’ stance and does not back down. She has had multiple run ins with the Police, but still she, selflessly, pushes on. I am convinced that the rationale that she uses to fight injustices is to take a swipe at ‘low hanging’ enforcers.

Read “Uganda Turinawe ‘sexual abuse’ police officer suspended’ for an example of Ingrid swiping at low hanging fruit.

Similar, perhaps, to her Bakiga ancestor before her, the one legend holds dragged her brother down the cliff with her to her death. And in doing so, legend has it, she ended the Bakiga version of honour killings – the norm of throwing unmarried pregnant girls off a cliff at Kisiizi Falls.

The brothers of girls who got pregnant before marriage were the ones who were delegate to push their unmarried pregnant sisters off the cliff to their deaths, for dishonouring their families. Many, submissively accepted their fate, until just the one resisted and pulled her brother down with her.

Read “Uganda’s punishment island: I was left to die on an island for getting pregnant’” for insights into the Bakiga honour killings.

Comparisons can be drawn with our Ingrid with our ancestor. Many are submissively accepting their fate, but not her. She is of the Bakiga, whom legend has it are “physically strong people.” She is fighting back; and a long the way, she has proverbially taken some prisoners too.

We are into week three of Black History Month, and for her courageous political activism and fight against injustice, our Ingrid is The Humanist View ‘Black African’ Woman of the Week.

Her contribution is valid, in as much as that of the justices of the Supreme Court, profiled here during the first week of Black History Month.

Read “Black African’ woman of week one of Black History month 2025” for more.