Uganda Today: Uganda Mourns Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema, A Pioneer Of Women’s Political Participation And Human Rights Champion
By Uganda Today Reporter
Nairobi / Kampala – Sunday, 3 August 2025
Uganda is mourning the death of a towering figure in the country’s political and social history, Canon Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema, who passed away this morning at Nairobi Hospital at the age of 96.
Fondly referred to as “the mother of Uganda’s Parliament”, Kalema was a trailblazer in promoting women’s participation in politics, a crusader for gender equality, and an unwavering advocate for peace, justice, and human dignity.
News of her passing was confirmed by her family in a brief but emotionally charged message:
“Good morning. With deep sorrow, I am informing you about the death of Maama Canon Rhoda Kalema who passed on this morning from Nairobi Hospital.
A Legacy of Firsts
Rhoda Kalema broke barriers at a time when Ugandan politics was a male-dominated field. In 1994, she contested and won a seat in the Constituent Assembly, representing Kiboga District, defeating eight male contenders — a landmark moment that paved the way for the greater involvement of women in governance.
Her last known public appearance was at the Scripture Union Conference in Kiboga, a reflection of her lifelong devotion to faith and community.
A Life Shaped by Tragedy and Purpose
Born in 1929 May to Katikkiro Martin Luther Nsibirwa — a former Buganda Prime Minister assassinated in 1945 — and Veronica Namuddu, Rhoda Kalema inherited a legacy of service and courage. Her educational journey began at Gayaza High School, continued through King’s College Budo, and culminated in Scotland, where she pursued Social Work — a discipline that would underpin her lifelong service to society.
Tragedy struck during the turbulent years of Idi Amin’s regime when her husband, William Wilberforce Kalema, was abducted and presumed killed, leaving her a widow under harrowing circumstances. This painful chapter of her life profoundly shaped her moral clarity and determination to fight for a just Uganda.
A Woman of Faith and Reflection
Canon Kalema’s commitment to Christian service remained unwavering. She was not only active in Uganda’s ecclesiastical circles but also used her platform to bridge the spiritual with the civic, advocating for values-based leadership.
In 2021, she published her deeply personal and reflective autobiography titled “My Life is But a Weaving” — a testament to her journey through faith, grief, public service, and womanhood in Uganda’s complex sociopolitical landscape.
Tributes Pour In
By press time, tributes had begun pouring in from leaders, women’s rights activists, clergy, and political figures across Uganda and beyond.
“Rhoda Kalema was not just a politician; she was a mother to the conscience of the nation,” said one admirer on social media. “She was the light that showed Ugandan women the way into Parliament, into leadership, and into purpose.”
Her death marks the end of an era but leaves behind a legacy etched in the bedrock of Uganda’s democratic journey.
Uganda Today will continue to follow up on funeral arrangements and tributes in subsequent updates.
Published by Uganda Today, your trusted source for news and analysis
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