Uganda’s ‘Mother of Parliament’ Rhoda Kalema Dies at 96

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1252 EAT on Monday 4 August 2025

Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema, widely known as Uganda’s ‘Mother of Parliament,’ has died.

Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema, widely known as Uganda’s ‘Mother of Parliament,’ passed away on Sunday at Nairobi Hospital. She was 96.

Despite her advanced age, Kalema remained active in public and spiritual life. Just days before her death, she attended a Scripture Union conference in Kiboga District—reflecting her lifelong commitment to faith and service.

Born on May 10, 1929, Kalema was the daughter of former Buganda Katikkiro Martin Luther Nsibirwa and Veronica Namuddu. She received her early education at Gayaza High School and King’s College Budo, later pursuing social work studies in Scotland.

Her upbringing in a politically active family and early exposure to leadership roles shaped Kalema’s lifelong commitment to public service. Entering Uganda’s political arena at a time when few women dared to do so, she broke ground in a landscape overwhelmingly dominated by men.

Kalema joined the post-Amin National Consultative Council, playing a vital role in the country’s political reconstruction. She later served as Deputy Minister for Public Service from 1989 to 1991 in President Yoweri Museveni’s administration.

Her historic election to the 1994 Constituent Assembly, where she triumphed over eight male opponents to represent Kiboga District, solidified her reputation as a trailblazer for women’s political participation in Uganda.

Kalema’s journey, however, was not without hardship. Her life was marked by personal and political challenges that tested her resilience but never dimmed her resolve.

Kalema’s personal life was marked by profound tragedy. Her husband, William Wilberforce Kalema, a former minister, was abducted and never seen again during Idi Amin’s regime—a loss that profoundly shaped her lifelong advocacy for justice, human rights, and reconciliation.

In 1980, she co-founded the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM), a short-lived but significant political party that laid the ideological foundation for the future National Resistance Movement (NRM), now Uganda’s ruling party.

During this turbulent political era, Kalema endured repeated arrests and state harassment. Yet, her resolve remained unshaken. Beyond her formal political roles, she devoted herself to mentoring and empowering the next generation of women leaders—including Uganda’s current Minister of Energy, Ruth Nankabirwa, who credits Kalema as a key influence in her career.

Kalema’s lifelong dedication to advancing women’s rights, civic engagement, and democratic values earned her numerous accolades. In 1996, she was honored by the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) for her pioneering role in Uganda’s political transformation. In 2018, Pepperdine University awarded her a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her enduring impact on public service and leadership.

In 2021, she published her memoir, My Life Is But a Weaving, a deeply reflective work chronicling her journey from royal childhood through Uganda’s colonial, post-independence, and conflict-ridden eras. The book offered rare insight into the personal sacrifices and spiritual strength that shaped her decades-long commitment to justice, leadership, and national healing.

Rhoda Kalema leaves behind a legacy of courage, resilience, and trailblazing service—an enduring inspiration to generations of Ugandans, especially women, striving to make their voices heard.

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