Margaret Mbuliro Lubanga

Margaret Lubanga, a beloved mother, jajja, sister, auntie, and friend, passed away July 12, 2024, with her daughters, Deborah and Layla, by her side.

Margaret was born July 12, 1959, in Kampala, Uganda. During her early childhood, she spent time living in London, New York City, and Washington DC as her father’s work commitments brought the family to new places. She returned to Uganda around age 11 where she would complete her primary and secondary education.

Growing up, Margaret loved playing board games, riding her bike, and celebrating Christmas with her family. As a young adult, she was steadfast in her studies with the goal of one day returning to America. Her hard work and prayers paid off in 1982 when she successfully transferred to Walsh College in Ohio.

In the subsequent decades, Margaret moved from Ohio to Maryland, Texas, and Washington state. Along the way, she got married and had her two daughters. Margaret was a working mother, but always made time to be a regular parent volunteer from the day her eldest started preschool to when her youngest graduated high school. Margaret always modeled the heart of a cheerful giver, not just in her tithes at church, but also in the time and energy she invested in those around her.

In the final years of her life, Margaret returned to Maryland where she found a welcoming community at Forcey Bible Church in Silver Spring. Her unwavering faith and encouraging words made her a blessing to all she encountered. The phrase, “the best is yet to come” was a frequent mantra of hers. She maintained that faith and optimism even as she was diagnosed with breast cancer the year prior to her death. Margaret had a long-established practice of writing down the good things that happened to her every day, from the mundane to the miraculous. So, while she always looked positively toward the future, Margaret never lost sight of the blessings of today.

Margaret is preceded in death by her parents, elder sister Christine, elder brother Edward, younger brother Joseph, and grandson Charles. She is survived by her daughters Deborah and Layla; granddaughter Maxine; son-in-law Peter; sisters Sarah, Nightingale, and Josephine; brothers Robert and John; as well as nieces and nephews.