Woman Who Got First Child At 60 Shares Journey Of Childlessness, Motherhood

• Professor Joyce Kakuramatsi Kikafunda knows what it means to struggle with childlessness
• This is after waiting for over 30 years to bear her first child, coming when she was aged 63
• The blessings came in doubles as she delivered quadruplets three years later

Uganda's High Commissioner to India, Professor Joyce Kakuramatsi Kikafunda, has laid bare her journey.

She revealed the pain and perseverance that defined her childless marriage for over three decades and the miraculous birth of her first child at 60.

What interventions did Kikafunda try?

New Vision shared Kikafunda's story, which echoes the trials and triumphs of countless women.

Despite seeking help from top medical facilities worldwide, natural conception remained elusive.

However, Kikafunda’s faith and determination never wavered.

In what she describes as "God's timing," she finally became a mother when most women her age welcome grandchildren.

Kikafunda's wishes for society

Professor Kikafunda’s story is a potent mix of emotions—hope, triumph, and uncertainty.

She had a rollercoaster ride from childhood as a young African girl who defied the patriarchal norm that only boys should be educated.

That paid off when she came out as a First-Class graduate and full professor at Uganda's most prestigious university.

Despite her many successes, society continued to judge her for not having children, a burden that weighs heavily on many women across Africa.

How Kikafunda's marriage suffered over childlessness

The marriage between Joyce and her husband Joseph endured despite being tested by the strain of childlessness.

However, Kikafunda acknowledges that the journey was far from easy, as society often views childless marriages as failures.

"Society makes you feel useless as a woman and soon you also start believing that you indeed are useless because of not bearing children," she shares.

Kikafunda recalls the emotional toll it took, especially when well-meaning people would ask, "Has she ever managed to have a child?"

Who are Kikafunda's children?

Her miraculous journey into motherhood saw her first child born at 60, followed by quadruplets at 63.

Her children—Blessing Kezia Faith Turyamuhaki Kikafunda, Samuel Josephson Atwijukire Kikafunda, Amazing Grace Tumuhimbise Kikafunda, Joyce Patience Tumwebaze Kikafunda, and Hope Mercy Tumwesigye Kikafunda—embody her faith and perseverance.

Kikafunda’s story is a personal tale and a call to action against the cultural stigma surrounding childlessness.

She advocates for respect and support for women who cannot bear children, emphasizing that a woman's value is not solely tied to motherhood.

"There are many other important duties a woman can perform in this life," she argues.

Woman shares 15-year struggle with childlessness

In an almost similar story, a woman who overcame 15 years of despair on her path to motherhood shared her touching story.

In an interview, she recalled braving the odds amidst the problematic period thanks to her supportive husband and in-laws.

The clip of the woman, now a proud mother of a girl, has sparked excitement among netizens on social media.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.