Kampala, Uganda: The fallen Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament, Helen Nakimuli, will be laid to rest on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at her ancestral home in Luweero District, climaxing a four-day national send-off programme released by the Parliament of Uganda.
Nakimuli, a member of the National Unity Platform, died on Saturday, April 18, in Kampala after an unsuccessful surgical procedure, sending shockwaves across Uganda’s political landscape.
According to the burial programme issued by Speaker Anita Annet Among, the cortege departed for Kalangala on Monday via Nakiwogo, Entebbe, shortly after the release of the post-mortem report.
On Tuesday, April 21, a Special Session of the Kalangala District Council and public viewing will be held to allow constituents to pay their last respects to the legislator widely referred to as the “Pearl of Kalangala.”
The body will then be transported back to Kampala via Masaka for an overnight vigil.
On Wednesday, April 22, Parliament will hold a Special Sitting in her honour after a public viewing at Parliament. The body will later be taken to the NUP headquarters in Makerere Kavule before an official vigil at her residence in Namungoona.
A requiem service will be held at Namungoona Orthodox Church on Thursday before her burial in Luweero.
A Life of Service and Leadership
Born on July 2, 1985, in Lukuba Village, Kyamuswa Sub-county, Kalangala District, Nakimuli rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most visible female political figures from Uganda’s island districts.
She was the daughter of a Greek Orthodox priest, Christopher Walusimbi, and Maria Nalwanga Walusimbi, a former district councillor, an upbringing that shaped her strong grounding in faith, leadership, and community service.
Nakimuli attended Bukasa Primary School and Hormisdallen Primary School in Kampala before joining Our Lady of Good Counsel Gayaza for O-Level and St. Augustine Secondary School for A-Level, where she served as head girl. She later graduated from Makerere University.
Her leadership journey saw her elected as Kalangala District Woman MP, where she also served as Shadow Minister for Information under the opposition.
From Sports to Politics
Before joining active politics, Nakimuli was an accomplished volleyball player, having played since 1998 and captained teams at the East African Parliamentary Games in Arusha.
She was also a member of COBAP Volleyball Club, where she built a reputation for discipline, teamwork, and resilience, traits that later defined her political career.
Nakimuli was widely recognised for her advocacy for widows, orphans, and vulnerable communities in Kalangala.
She facilitated legal support for widows facing property grabbing, distributed relief items to the elderly, and supported families affected by disasters, including fire outbreaks.
Her humanitarian work earned her international recognition, including an ecclesial medal from His Divine Beatitude Theodore II, the Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, for her service to humanity and the church.
She also actively lobbied for inclusion of island districts like Kalangala in national economic programmes such as Emyooga, arguing for equitable development.
Final Moments and National Mourning
According to opposition leaders, mostly from her party, NUP, Nakimuli personally drove herself to a Kampala health facility for what she described as a “minor procedure” on the morning of her death.
Tragically, she did not survive the operation.
Her passing has drawn tributes from across the political divide, with colleagues describing her as a dedicated legislator, a fearless advocate, and a unifying voice for island communities.
Ms Among said Parliament “stands in solidarity with the bereaved family and the people of Kalangala District. We honour the legacy of a dedicated legislator and tireless advocate for her people. May her soul rest in eternal peace.”
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
