Julia Kibubura was the first woman to take up a political leadership position as Gombolola (County) chief in Western Uganda.

[4] She was appointed as a Gombolola chief by Harry St. George Galt who was a sub commissioner in charge of the western region in 1905.

[1] The root word for the name Kibubura in Runyakitara is ‘okububura’ loosely translated as ‘the roaring of a lion’.

The church was later in 1970s replaced with the current St. Paul church of Uganda Ibanda on which Late Archbishop Luwum laid a foundation stone in 1976[1][7][8] Kibubura's known grandson is Michael Kibeeherere[9] There is still a rumour in Ibanda that Kibubura had a secret love affair with Harry St George Galt and that it is the reason why he appointed her as a Gombolola chief in Western Uganda.

Kibubura's astounded natives of Ibanda because at that time, women leaders were usually frowned upon.| However, Michael Kibeeherere, a grandson of Julia Kibubura, disputed the claim of the secret love affair by saying that "Kiburura was an honourable person, virtuous and dignified, totally incapable of an extramarital affair," in 2016.