TRAILBLAZING UGANDAN 'MOTHER OF PARLIAMENT' RHODA KALEMA DIES AT 96 IN NAIROBI

Uganda is mourning the death of Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema, a pioneering politician and celebrated advocate for women’s rights, who has passed away at the age of 96.

Kalema died early Saturday morning at Nairobi Hospital, her family confirmed. She had been battling age-related complications and was last seen in public at a Scripture Union conference in Kiboga District over the past weekend.

Widely regarded as the "Mother of Parliament" in Uganda, Kalema was born on 10 May 1929 into the prominent family of former Buganda Katikkiro Martin Luther Nsibirwa. She received her early education at Gayaza High School and King's College Budo before pursuing studies in social work in Scotland.

Her political journey began during Uganda’s transitional period after the fall of Idi Amin, becoming one of the first women to serve on the National Consultative Council. She later held the position of Deputy Minister of Public Service from 1989 to 1991 under President Yoweri Museveni. In 1994, she made history by winning a hotly contested Constituent Assembly seat in Kiboga, defeating eight male opponents.

Kalema’s public life was also shaped by personal tragedy. Her husband, former minister William Wilberforce Kalema, was abducted and presumed killed during Amin’s reign of terror, deepening her resolve to fight for justice and democracy.

She co-founded the Uganda Patriotic Movement in 1980, enduring harassment and multiple arrests during periods of political turmoil. Despite this, Kalema became a mentor to many female leaders, among them Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa.

Her lifelong commitment to public service and gender equality earned her several accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Pepperdine University in 2018 and recognition by the Forum for Women in Democracy in 1996.

In 2021, she published her memoir, My Life Is But a Weaving, reflecting on her royal upbringing, personal losses, and public contributions spanning Uganda’s pre- and post-independence history.

Rhoda Kalema leaves behind an enduring legacy of courage, leadership, and service that transformed Uganda’s political landscape for generations to come.