Meet Rose Munezero: A Steady Presence in Masaka

When you meet Rose Munezero, you immediately sense the quiet strength and grace she brings into every room. It’s no surprise she’s been faithfully serving with Hope Alive! since 2009, helping launch the Masaka site from the ground up. What began with just a few sponsored students and no office has become a thriving community, thanks in no small part to Rose’s determination, faith, and experience.

Before joining Hope Alive!, Rose worked with Compassion International for five years. When a missionary friend told her about an opportunity with a newly launched ministry, she was open to God’s leading. She interviewed, was selected, and began what would become a life-changing journey. “It wasn’t easy,” she shared. “There was no office, no staff, just a few enrolled children and a vision. But I believed in the work.”

Rose found the first Hope Alive! office space in Masaka—a former pastor’s house—and began the work of building the site, adding a few more structures to expand the existing mentorship program. “There were guidelines missing in some areas,” she said, “but I knew what needed to be done.” Her experience with Compassion International gave her a solid foundation for establishing a strong organization. Sixteen years later, Rose continues to lead and mentor with wisdom and heart.

But her impact goes far beyond her role at Hope Alive!. Rose is a mother to five—three biological children, ages 15,13, and 6, and two she has lovingly taken in, ages 23 and 13. One of them, Immaculate, is a Hope Alive! student who lost her mother when she was young and was working as a maid at just 12 years old to support herself. When the opportunity came for her to be sponsored through Hope Alive!, she moved in with Rose’s family and became part of their home. “She calls me Mommy,” Rose says with a smile. “She has stayed with us for five years.”

Her days are full—waking early for devotions, preparing children for school, overseeing Hope Alive! responsibilities, and spending evenings making sure her household is running smoothly. Her husband Moses works in a remote district near the border of Congo and Rwanda, returning home every other weekend. “It wasn’t easy at first,” she admits, “but now I manage everything at home. He calls every day, and he’s still so present and loving, even from a distance.”

One of Rose’s favorite family rhythms is sitting down together to talk—just to check in, hear how everyone’s doing, and reflect on the week. “It helps us understand each other better,” she says. “We also try to go out and do something fun now and then. Maybe swimming or just enjoying a meal together.”

Rose was raised in a pastor’s home with six other siblings. She clearly remembers the moment, as a child in P6 (sixth grade) when salvation became personal to her. “I grew up in church, but one Sunday someone came and preached in our Sunday school class. They said that salvation wasn’t a family thing—it’s personal. I realized I hadn’t accepted Jesus for myself.” That moment changed her life, and her walk with Christ has continued to deepen ever since.

When asked what she’s most proud of as a mother, Rose points to her children’s spiritual growth. “They’ve accepted Christ and are growing. They relate well to others, and I can talk to them about anything. I’m proud of the people they are becoming.”

And what does she hope they take away from watching her work? “That work is important. That you shouldn’t waste time. That it’s good to have a plan. I hope they see that supporting others and living with purpose is worth it.”

Rose’s life is a beautiful picture of faithfulness—both in the quiet routines of family life and in the steady leadership she’s offered to Hope Alive! for more than a decade. She is most proud of her children and the way they are growing in the Lord. She says, “I thank God that through the ministries, I’ve been equipped with skills and knowledge that I can pass on to my children. They are all believers and are growing spiritually and in their relationships with others, and I am their friend, and I can sit and talk with them. I am so proud of that!”