By Swift Reporter
Emotions ran high at the Parliament of Uganda on Wednesday morning as legislators gathered to receive the body of Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament, Helen Nakimuli.
The casket arrived at Parliament shortly after 10:00 a.m., where it was received by Speaker Anita Among, her deputy Thomas Tayebwa, Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, ministers, parliamentary staff, and dozens of Members of Parliament.
As a police band played solemn tunes and the casket was wheeled into the precincts of Parliament, grief engulfed the gathering. Several leaders, including Speaker Among, were visibly emotional, with some seen wiping away tears in tribute to their fallen colleague.
Nakimuli’s body is currently lying in state to allow members of the public and leaders to pay their last respects. A special plenary sitting is scheduled later in the main chamber, where legislators will deliver formal tributes in honor of her life and service.
The 41-year-old legislator passed away on April 19, 2026, at Alexandra Medical Centre in Kampala following complications during a surgical procedure for fibroids. According to opposition leader Ssenyonyi, Nakimuli had driven herself to the hospital, believing the operation to be minor.
Later in the day, her body will be taken to the National Unity Platform headquarters in Makerere Kavule, where party members will pay tribute. A vigil is also planned at her family home in Namungoona.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday at the Orthodox Church in Namungoona, after which she will be laid to rest at her ancestral home in Luwero District.
Nakimuli, often described as outspoken and dedicated, served as the Woman MP for Kalangala and was widely respected for her advocacy on issues affecting island communities, including health, education, and livelihoods. Her death has left a deep void in Parliament and among her constituents.
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