Politics 23 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda's 11th Parliament Mourns Eight MPs Lost Before Term's End
Eight Ugandan MPs from the 11th Parliament have died during their term, spanning political parties and including high-profile figures like former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah. The latest loss is re-elected Kalangala Woman MP Helen Nakimuli, who passed away before the 12th Parliament's inauguration. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/a-house-in-mourning-eight-mps-who-have-died-before-end-of-11th-parliament-5433308
Uganda’s 11th Parliament, set to conclude on May 12, 2026, has been overshadowed by tragedy with eight legislators passing away while in office. These deaths, crossing party lines, have left constituencies grieving and highlighted vulnerabilities in public service.
The most recent is Helen Nakimuli, 40, Kalangala District Woman MP, who died on Sunday at Alexandra Medical Center in Kampala after failed surgery. As a re-elected MP for the upcoming 12th Parliament and NUP member, she was also a shadow minister for Communication and Anti-Corruption, known for human rights advocacy and community work in Ssese islands.
Among the deceased are four from the ruling NRM: former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah (56), who succumbed to multiple organ failure in Seattle, USA, on March 20, 2022; State Minister Col (rtd) Charles Patrick Okello Engola, shot by his bodyguard on May 2, 2023; Serere County MP Patrick Okabe, killed in a road crash on December 19, 2023; and Kisoro Woman MP Sarah Nyirabashitsi Mateke (50), who died from a heart attack on September 7, 2024.
The opposition suffered losses too: FDC’s Cecilia Barbara Atim Ogwal (77), a veteran politician who died of cancer on January 18, 2024; and Ngora Woman MP Stella Apolot Isodo, who passed away on January 17, 2026, shortly after losing her re-election bid. NUP also mourns Muhammad Ssegirinya (37), Kawempe North MP, who died from illness on January 9, 2025, after a controversial tenure marked by arrests and community health initiatives.
Tributes poured in for Nakimuli, with Mityana MP Francis Zaake praising her energy, compassion, and anti-corruption stance, while Bukomansimbi South MP Geofrey Kayemba Ssolo lauded her eloquence and push for accountability. Speakers Anita Among and Thomas Tayebwa also eulogized her advocacy for fishing communities.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)