MPs Contribute Shs 500,000 Each Towards Deceased MP Hellen Nakimuli Daughter’s Education

KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s Parliament has moved decisively to support the family of the late Kalangala Woman MP, Hellen Nakimuli, with lawmakers agreeing to a collective financial contribution that will see each legislator give Shs500,000 from their salary toward the care and future of her daughter.

With a House of about 529 MPs, the commitment translates into a significant pooled fund, underscoring the scale of response triggered by Nakimuli’s sudden death earlier this week.

The decision was reached during a special sitting on Wednesday convened in her honour, as grief in the chamber blended with urgent calls for action following her death on Sunday after undergoing surgery — an incident that has stirred concern both within political circles and among the wider public.

Speaker Anita Annet Among, presiding over the emotionally charged session, outlined a broader package of financial support already mobilised from top political leaders and parliamentary actors.

She told the House that President Yoweri Museveni had contributed Shs20 million, while the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus pledged Shs10 million. Among herself committed Shs10 million, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa added Shs5 million, and Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua contributed Shs1 million.

The Speaker emphasized that Parliament will fully cover all burial expenses, a move intended to ensure that the financial contributions raised are preserved and directed entirely toward supporting Nakimuli’s child.

In a further update, Among confirmed that a detailed postmortem report had been handed over to the family, marking a critical step in addressing lingering questions surrounding the circumstances of Nakimuli’s death.

She described the fallen legislator as “calm, humble, and evidence-driven,” noting that Nakimuli consistently made meaningful and substantive contributions to parliamentary debate — a trait colleagues across the political divide echoed throughout the sitting.

Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi used his address to push beyond tribute, urging leaders to confront systemic gaps exposed by Nakimuli’s death.

He said honouring her legacy should not end with speeches, but must translate into reforms that prevent similar tragedies. According to Ssenyonyi, her passing should serve as a catalyst for stronger accountability, greater integrity, and renewed commitment to public service delivery.

As Parliament deliberated, preparations for Nakimuli’s final send-off were also outlined.

Her body is scheduled to be taken to the National Unity Platform headquarters in Makerere Kavule, where supporters and party members are expected to pay their respects. It will later be transferred to her home in Namungoona for an overnight vigil.

A funeral service is set for Thursday, April 23, at Namungoona Orthodox Church, after which she will be laid to rest in Luweero.

Nakimuli’s death has left a noticeable void in both Parliament and her constituency, where she built a reputation as a hands-on leader deeply connected to her community.

Before her election to Parliament in 2021 under the National Unity Platform (NUP), she served as a Community Development Officer in Kalangala District from 2013 to 2020, working closely with grassroots communities.

During her parliamentary tenure, she held key roles as Shadow Minister for Agriculture and later as Shadow Minister for ICT and Anti-Corruption, positions through which she advocated for policy reforms and accountability.

She was widely recognised for championing the needs of island communities, pushing for women’s empowerment, and maintaining an active presence beyond politics. Notably, she served as captain of Parliament’s volleyball team, reflecting her energetic and unifying character.

As the country continues to process her sudden passing, Wednesday’s parliamentary resolution signaled a shift from mourning to concrete support — an effort by lawmakers to ensure that Nakimuli’s legacy endures not only in words, but in the tangible care extended to the family she leaves behind.