“I must stand to be a shoulder, not only for my family, but for people who are going through circumstances like I am.” _ Maxensia Nakibuuka Takirambule What happens when the experiences that nearly break a person become the foundation from which they serve others? In Season 2, Episode 5 of the Footprints Podcast, host Jacqueline Asiimwe sits down with Maxensia Nakibuuka Takirambule, Founder and Executive Director of Lungujja Community Health Caring Organisation. Maxensia reflects on growing up as a cherished last-born child and watching her mother work tirelessly to keep her in school. She speaks of the brother who helped finance her education and encouraged her to pursue qualifications that would allow her to support her family, a decision whose importance became painfully clear following his sudden death. Her story traces a life marked by repeated loss, early employment, marriage, and the responsibilities of caring for an ever-growing family. She also speaks candidly about her husband's illness, his HIV diagnosis, the denial and violence that accompanied that chapter of their lives, and her decision to remain by his side until his death. When Maxensia later learned that she, too, was living with HIV, she was overcome by anger, fear, and the belief that her life might soon end. Sitting alone and questioning what remained for her, she came to a difficult realization: leaving, revenge, or surrender would not change her diagnosis. Wrestling with fear, anger, and uncertainty, Maxensia made a decision that would shape the rest of her life: she returned home, embraced her responsibility to her children, and chose to keep living. After her husband's death, the people of Lungujja surrounded her with food, encouragement, and psychosocial support. Older women and widows reminded her that grief did not require her to disappear. Their generosity planted a conviction that would shape the rest of her life: she would become for others what her community had been for her. Maxensia went on to serve in local political leadership and established Lungujja Community Health Caring Organisation, opening part of her home to provide treatment, counselling, and practical support to individuals and families affected by HIV. Her advocacy eventually carried her into national and international spaces, where she spoke about HIV, grassroots leadership, women's experiences, community health, and the importance of including affected people in decisions about their own lives. This conversation is about surviving without pretending the pain was small. It is about faith that asks difficult questions, forgiveness that does not erase accountability, and leadership that begins with remembering who held you when you could not hold yourself. Content note: This episode contains discussions of bereavement, HIV, domestic violence, illness, and stigma. Subscribe to the Footprints Podcast for more conversations that share the stories, experiences, and wisdom of our elders. “God, I am not dying today. I must live to witness your goodness.” _ Maxensia Nakibuuka Takirambule #FootprintsPodcastSeries #WomenInLeadership #CommunityHealth #HIVAdvocacy #Resilience #Legacy
