When the Electoral Commission (EC) announced the roadmap for the Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election on May 8, attention immediately shifted to one question across the islands: who can replace the late Hellen Nakimuli? Nakimuli 41, died last month after an unsuccessful surgery at Alexandria Medical Centre in Kampala, cutting short what several islanders believed would have been a more vocal second term in Parliament for the Opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) legislator.
Nakimuli had won a second term earlier this year after polling 10,609 votes against ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party candidate Aidah Nabayiga, who garnered 9,245 votes out of the 19,854 valid votes cast.
Her death has since created what political observers and islanders describe as the ‘Nakimuli effect’ – a wave of emotional attachment and political admiration now shaping the kind of leader voters want to represent the district.
‘Losing Nakimuli was a disaster to the district. She was a person you could inform about any calamity that had happened in Kalangala, send a report to her WhatsApp, and within hours she would be speaking about it on the floor of Parliament, and we would receive instant responses from the concerned authorities,’ Mr David Omongot, the Kalangala District disaster focal point person, said.
Mr Omongoti said it would be hard to find a leader who could be so fast in delivering the message to the concerned ministries and receive an instant response.
Some residents said Nakimuli distinguished herself through aggressive advocacy on issues affecting island communities, particularly illegal fishing, transport challenges, health services, and infrastructure, which made her stand out among other legislators in the district.
‘I remember we had a problem of boats from other districts entering Kalangala District waters and engaging in illegal fishing. We cried to her, and she did her own research, then went to the floor of Parliament and complained about these boats, which we believed had the backing of some powerful people in government. The issue was solved because we no longer see them on the lake,’ Mr Siraje Mawanda, the spokesperson of the Association of Fishers and Lake Users of Uganda (AFALU), said.
He added: ‘She was very vocal in making sure fishermen get fair laws and are treated fairly, but now we have no other hope that we can get another legislator who would not fear those who are powerful to speak about the wrongs they do.’
Nakimuli’s appeal, some residents said, went beyond party politics, with many describing her as a unifying figure capable of bringing together people from different islands and political backgrounds around common causes affecting Kalangala.
‘For example, under the Nakimuli Foundation, she used to work with many organisations and influential people in and out of Kalangala, regardless of their political parties, to help women dealing in broom making. We looked for that even when we were electing our next leaders during the previous elections,’ said Ms Victoria Nasseje, a resident of Bugoma Village.
Even as aspirants seek to position themselves to become Nakimuli’s political successor, several voters said they are still searching for a leader who can command broad acceptance across the district in the same way Nakimuli did.
‘We know they can’t be like her [Nakimuli], but we need someone whom all people can like to be able to have a win,’ said Ms Sarah Nalwadda, a resident of Bubeke-Lwaazi in Bubeke Sub-county.
Nakimuli, a former community development officer who had worked across more than four sub-counties in Kalangala, first entered elective politics in 2021 with little expectation from many residents that she would defeat the entrenched ruling NRM party structures.
At the time, she was contesting against Ms Aidah Nabayiga, who was seeking a second term in Parliament.
Having resigned from her job before joining elective politics, Nakimuli reportedly entered the race with limited financial resources, but used her extensive grassroots networks built during her years working closely with communities across the various islands to canvass votes.
Several residents said her strong personal connections and accessibility became one of her biggest political strengths during the campaigns in 2021 General Election. Some supporters reportedly contributed money, fuel, and transport facilitation to enable Namuli to move across the scattered islands while searching for votes.
Others volunteered to mobilise communities, organise meetings, and host campaign teams at landing sites and villages across the district, creating what several residents described as a people-driven campaign.
In 2021, she defeated Ms Mary Goreti Namuddu in the contest for the party ticket, and in 2025, she stood unopposed.
Before the 2026 General Election, rumours had circulated that Irene Nakanwagi intended to challenge Nakimuli for the NUP ticket. However, Nakanwagi publicly denied the claims, helping cool tensions within party ranks. Ms Nakanwagi, who later won the woman councillor seat for Kalangala Town Council in the January election, is now among those seeking to replace her former political mentor
‘The electoral laws allow me to contest in a by-election for any position above the one I won, and that is why I decided to contest for the party card for the District Woman MP seat,’ she said.
Ms Nakanwagi added:’If I win the by-election, I can leave the councillor seat, and if I lose, I return to my post.’
NUP now has 13 women contesting for its ticket. These include Irene Nampala-a sister of the late Nakimuli; Jessica Nasiwa Tusabe, Roy Nakigozi, Mary Goreti Namuddu, who contested for the party card in 2021; Beatrice Nanyomo Kirabo, Dr Mary Nakitende, Ms Alice Namugerwa, Aisha Nantaayi, Maria Nakitendde, a journalist; Irene Nakanwagi, a district woman councillor; Irene Nabaggala, Barbara Nabasirye, and Sharifa Kaala Babirye.
Others in the race include Ms Aidah Nabayiga of the NRM, who was the party flag bearer in the January 15 General Election, and Ms Hellen Flavia Nagawa ( independent), who stepped down before the NRM primaries, paving the way for Ms Nabayiga to run unopposed.
Ms Sarah Asubo, a wife of former Bujumba County MP Julius Mukasa Opondo, and Ms Lydia Namera Kizza intend to contest as independent candidates.
‘Many women were motivated by her [Nakimuli], including those who don’t have much money, because they believe they can make it just like how she made it,’ said Mr Bambalazabwe Semakula, a political analyst in Kalangala.
Some analysts said several of the aspirants currently seeking to replace Nakimuli are attempting to present themselves as accessible community-based leaders capable of maintaining the close relationship the dead MP had built with residents.Although open campaigns have not yet started, various aspirants are engaged in door-to-door mobilisation, and direct interaction with voters, among others.
Residents, who spoke to this publication, said Nakimuli’s popularity was largely built on personal interaction and visibility across the islands rather than financial strength or party structures alone. With only days left to nominations, NUP has yet to announce its flagbearer despite more than a dozen women expressing interest in the seat.
Several aspirants are increasingly building their campaigns around their connection to Nakimuli in an attempt to tap into sympathy and emotional support among voters still mourning the late legislator. Campaign posters circulating on social media groups in Kalangala prominently feature Nakimuli alongside some of the aspirants seeking the NUP ticket.
A poster of Ms Nampala, a sister of the late MP, shows Nakimuli raising her hand. Another poster for Ms Jessica Nassiwa Tusabe, a former aide to Nakimuli, shows the late legislator holding her shoulders, interpreted by a section of supporters as a symbolic endorsement.
Other aspirants have also increasingly adopted Nakimuli’s style of grassroots mobilisation.
Ms Sharifa Kaala Babirye has been campaigning under the slogan ‘Ku lwa Nakimuli Foundation,’ positioning herself as a leader who would continue implementing the late MP’s community projects and plans.
She has also participated in cleaning exercises at major landing sites such as Mweena- activities previously associated with the Nakimuli Foundation. Ms Beatrice Nanyomo Kirabo has similarly designed her campaign around continuing Nakimuli’s advocacy.
‘This is the time to put our trust in a leader who loves Kalangala, who has served Kalangala and can be a voice for all islanders,’ read one of her campaign messages. The late Nakimuli, changed the way several residents viewed politics in Kalangala, with some observers saying she built rare support across political divides. ‘It is hard to be liked by most people in Kalangala across all political parties like Nakimuli was,’ said Mr Semakula.
He added: ‘When you look at those who want to be like her, they understand her ability to pull crowds. That is why many are trying to show that they were close to Nakimuli and can do what she did for the people.’
Mr Semakula, however, warned contenders seeking to replace Nakimuli not to assume they can easily match her political influence and connection with voters. ‘However much that strategy may help them [contenders] during the vetting and election period, it will be very hard to be like Nakimuli. I do not think there is anyone who can do exactly what Nakimuli did for this district in the way she used to. But everybody should have something they can do to develop this district, he said.
Mr Sunday Gerald Kayita, the Kalangala NRM chairperson, admitted that Nakimuli was a strong leader but insisted that Ms Nabayiga would win the poll. ‘We know NUP is relying heavily on sympathy votes, but our candidate is ready enough to win this forthcoming by- election…In the previous election, our candidate [Ms Nabayiga] got 9,245 votes. She can very well catch up and win this election,’ he said.
About the by-election
The Electoral Commission said nominations for candidates will take place between June 10 and 11, while campaigns will run from June 12 to 22 ahead of election on June 24. The island district has 42,452 registered voters who vote from 155 polling stations spread across the 64 habitable islands.