KAMPALA, Uganda — Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema, a pioneering Ugandan politician and social worker known as the “Mother of Parliament,” died Saturday at age 96. Her family confirmed her passing in a message circulated this morning, stating she died from age-related illnesses at Nairobi Hospital.
Born May 10, 1929, Kalema was a highly respected stateswoman who blazed a trail for women in politics, entering a male-dominated arena when few others dared.
She was among the first women to serve in Uganda’s post-Amin National Consultative Council and later as Deputy Minister of Public Service under President Yoweri Museveni from 1989 to 1991. In 1994, she was elected to Uganda’s Constituent Assembly, defeating eight male contenders in Kiboga District. This historic victory cemented her legacy as a national icon for women’s political empowerment.
Kalema’s life was marked by both personal and political adversity. The daughter of Buganda Katikkiro Martin Luther Nsibirwa and Veronica Namuddu, she was educated at Gayaza and King’s College Budo before studying social work in Scotland. Her husband, William Wilberforce Kalema, a former minister, was abducted and presumed killed during Idi Amin’s regime, an event that profoundly shaped her later advocacy for justice and peace.
In 1980, Kalema co-founded the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) and endured repeated arrests during the political unrest of the early 1980s. Despite the challenges, she remained a steadfast presence in Uganda’s national life, mentoring a new generation of female leaders, including current Chief Government Whip Ruth Nankabirwa.
Her contributions to the women’s movement and public service received widespread recognition. She was honored by the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) in 1996 and awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Pepperdine University in 2018. In 2021, she published her memoir, “My Life Is But A Weaving,” reflecting on her journey from a royal childhood to public service and offering insights into Uganda’s colonial and post-independence history.
Kalema was last seen in public last weekend at a Scripture Union conference in Kiboga District. She leaves behind a legacy of courage, resilience, and unwavering service to Uganda.
