Rhoda Kalema, 'Mother of Parliament,' dies at 96

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Rhoda Nsibirwa Kalema, one of Uganda’s pioneering female politicians and widely celebrated as the “Mother of Parliament,” has died at the age of 96.

Kalema passed away on Sunday morning at Nairobi Hospital, her family confirmed.

Born on May 10, 1929, Kalema rose to become a towering figure in Uganda’s post-independence political history, lauded for her role in championing women’s participation in politics and public service.

Her political journey began in 1961 when she was recruited into the Uganda People’s Congress by Grace Ibingira and Adoko Nyekon.

Following the abduction and killing of her husband, William Kalema—a former minister of commerce and teacher at King’s College Budo—by agents of Idi Amin in 1972, she stepped away from active politics.

However, after Amin’s ouster in 1979, Kalema joined the National Consultative Council, a transitional body formed by the National Liberation Front under Edward Rugumayo.

In 1980, she became one of the founding members of the Uganda Patriotic Movement, the party that later evolved into the ruling National Resistance Movement.

She went on to serve in several key roles, including deputy minister of public service from 1989 to 1991 under President Yoweri Museveni.

Kalema's resilience and impact were evident throughout her career. She was arrested three times, yet remained a steadfast voice for justice and democracy. In 1994, she won a Constituent Assembly seat for Kiboga, triumphing over eight male contenders.

In recognition of her leadership, Kalema was honoured in 1996 by the Forum for Women in Democracy as a “transformative leader.”

In March 2023, she was awarded the Sudreau Global Justice Lifetime Achievement Award by Pepperdine University School of Law and the Uganda Judiciary.