[16] Makumbi has taught at various universities in the UK teaching both English and Creative Writing as an Associate Lecturer.

Her writing relies heavily on Ganda oral traditions, especially myths, legends, folktales and sayings.

[17][18] Makumbi began writing at the age of 15, when she wrote, directed and produced a play for a school competition.

[16] In 1994, she started writing a diary in poetry form to expunge her feelings as she was going through a rough patch in her life.

She has said she "noticed that using oral forms which were normally perceived as trite and 'tired' brought, ironically, a certain depth to a piece that I could not explain.

"[20] It is important to note that her intentions in using oral traditions in fiction are not conservationist as is often presumed in African writing.

With an extraordinarily ambitious and agile narrative voice that blends traditional oral storytelling with folk tales, mythology, and biblical elements, Makumbi delivers an incisive critique of contemporary Ugandan class, politics, and religion.

"[14] Interviewed by C. A. Davids in 2018 for The Johannesburg Review of Books, Makumbi said: "The West has too much influence on, and control of, our canon.

The books they like—which tend to talk about Europe—are the ones they publish, which get reviewed, studied, written about in journals and which make it into the African canon.

It was described by Alex Clark in The Guardian as "a lively, engaging read ... its energy derives from its considerable wit and the charm of its central character",[37] and in World Literature Today, Adele Newson-Horst called it "spellbinding".

[38] Further praise came from The Washington Post, where Bethanne Patrick referred to "Makumbi's glorious telling",[39] while The New York Times concluded: "The reader cannot escape the intimacy of this story.

Makumbi's prose is irresistible and poignant, with remarkable wit, heart and charm — poetic and nuanced, brilliant and sly, openhearted and cunning, balancing discordant truths in wise ruminations.

'A Girl Is a Body of Water' rewards the reader with one of the most outstanding heroines and the incredible honor of journeying by her side.