From the streets of Kampala to international stages, Rebecca Kisakye Makyeli’s life is a vivid portrait of redemption. Her memoir, Woman Fire Grace, chronicles a childhood overshadowed by her mother’s alcoholism, her own 15-year battle with alcohol and nicotine addiction, and the years she spent homeless after being kicked out of home and dropping out of university twice.
The turning point came in the most unlikely place — a tiny room during Uganda’s COVID-19 lockdown. Having hit rock bottom after nearly five years of street life, Rebecca encountered the Lord in a way that redefined her destiny. Out of that sacred moment, she began to write, pouring her story onto paper as a testament that God still turns messes into messages.
Today, Rebecca stands as a published author, media personality, sobriety coach, and lived-experience speaker. Through her work, she champions substance-use prevention among youth, speaking on platforms across Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and the UK. She is also the founder of AhavaLife, an initiative dedicated to connecting individuals struggling with addiction to the recovery resources, facilities, and support groups they need for lasting transformation.
With her second book — a faith-based recovery guide for those overcoming alcohol addiction — in the works, Rebecca continues to burn bright as living proof that even the deepest pits can become pulpits in God’s hands.
