The Electoral Commission has nominated three candidates to contest the Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election, scheduled for June 24, 2026.
The by-election follows the death of former Woman MP Hellen Nakimuli, who passed away on April 19, 2026, after undergoing unsuccessful surgery at Alexander Medical Centre in Kampala.
On the first day of nominations, the Electoral Commission cleared Aidah Nabayiga, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer. Nabayiga also contested in the January 2026 general election but lost to the late Nakimuli.
Also nominated were Irene Nampala, the elder sister of the late Nakimuli and candidate for the National Unity Platform (NUP), and independent candidate Hellen Flavia Nagawa, whose campaign symbol is a clock.
Harriet Kashagire, the Electoral Commission’s Regional Election Officer for South Central Uganda, said six people picked nomination forms, with the remaining aspirants expected to complete the process on the second and final day of nominations.
Kashagire cautioned candidates and their supporters against engaging in election-related violence, emphasizing the Commission’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, and peaceful election.
She noted that nominated candidates are now free to begin campaigning ahead of the June 24 poll. Campaigns will officially end on June 22, 2026.
The nominated candidates were accompanied by senior leaders from their respective political camps.
Nabayiga was escorted by NRM mobilization chief Rosemary Sseninde and Party Electoral Commissioner Ambassador James Kinobe. The party leaders expressed confidence in securing victory, urging voters to elect experienced leadership rather than what they described as “leaders inheriting political positions.”
Nabayiga appealed to voters to support her candidacy, saying she would strengthen Kalangala’s representation in Parliament and continue the development initiatives she championed during her previous tenure in office.
Meanwhile, NUP candidate Irene Nampala was accompanied by the party’s Secretary General, Lewis Rubongoya, former Mawogola South MP Gorreth Namugga, and her father, Rev. Christopher Walusimbi.
Nampala pledged to prioritize education, advocate for fishing communities, promote women’s empowerment, and strengthen healthcare services in the district. She called on voters to trust her leadership and vision for Kalangala.
Independent candidate Hellen Flavia Nagawa pledged to champion improvements in the district’s transport network, arguing that better connectivity would ease movement for residents seeking essential services and economic opportunities.
The Kalangala Woman MP by-election is expected to be closely contested as candidates intensify campaigns across the island district in the coming weeks.
According to the Electoral Commission, Kalangala District has 42,452 registered voters spread across 115 polling stations.
