Remembering Agnes Zabali

Agnes Zabali came to Canada in 1985 during the Ugandan civil war. Determined to reunite her family, she worked multiple jobs in the Ottawa community and, in 1989, was able to bring her three sons to live with her in Canada.

 

Agnes later earned diplomas in Business Information Systems and Hospitality. Her extraordinary work ethic, creativity and perseverance led to a career with the federal government as a Compensation Adviser. But beyond her professional accomplishments, Agnes dedicated her life to her children, extended family, and community both in Ottawa and in her home village of Kamengo, Uganda. Together with her son Jimmy Sebulime, Agnes spent years volunteering on projects aimed at improving the lives of newcomers to Canada and vulnerable children and youth in Kamengo. She supported families, helped create jobs, and championed initiatives that brought opportunity and hope to those in need.

 

On December 19, 2012, while traveling to Uganda with her family to mark the cultural anniversary of her mother’s passing, Agnes was involved in a tragic road accident in Kampala. She, Jimmy, and her nephew Paulo were struck by a Kampala City Council garbage truck at 1am. Sadly, Agnes passed away on December 27, 2012, from the injuries she sustained. Jimmy suffered a fractured skull, broken jaw and extensive facial injuries, putting him in a coma for several days and ended up with a traumatic brain injury. Jimmy and Paulo recovered and vowed to continue helping others.

 

Agnes is remembered with both tears and laughter for the profound impact she had during her lifetime. Through her determination and unwavering spirit, she proved that each one us can indeed make a difference especially for vulnerable children. She never forgot her roots, her village, or the people who shaped her.

 

Her legacy lives on through the Agnes Zabali Boys and Girls Club (AZBGC). Some of Agnes’ proudest accomplishments were reuniting with her children, purchasing land where the current guest house stands, constructing and completing a community center in Kamengo. The community center includes a stage facing an open-air courtyard, surrounded by rooms used as an office, library, cultural space and storage for medical supplies. Below are rooms that provide shelter to orphans and vulnerable youth and a large computer room. Outside, the grounds feature a small basketball court, a bathroom block, water tanks, outdoor cooking areas and a small garage for the project vehicle and storage. Today, this community center and basketball court are the heart of the AZBGC Uganda.

 

The AZBGC Uganda hosts international volunteers who contribute to medical, educational, and infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, AZBGC Canada supports the initiative through a variety of events and programs designed to raise funds and awareness. Agnes Zabali will always be remembered as a hard-working, kind, and generous woman who was a tough but loving mother, sister, aunt, and friend. Her compassion for others, especially the children and youth of Kamengo, continues to inspire generations through the work of the Agnes Zabali Boys and Girls Club.