Politics
Kalangala islanders elect new district Woman MP
Voters in Kalangala are choosing their new woman representative in Parliament.
Voters lining up at a polling station in Kalangala Town Council during the Kalangala Woman MP byelection on June 24, 2026. (Credit: Samuel Nkuba)
By: Samuel Nkuba, Journalist @New Vision
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Thousands of voters in Uganda's island district of Kalangala on Wednesday (June 24) went to the polls to elect a new woman representative in the 12th Parliament.
The seat fell vacant in April this year following the death of National Unity Platform (NUP) legislator Helen Nakimuli, who had been re-elected in the January polls.
Her death after an unsuccessful surgery in Kampala prompted the Electoral Commission to organize a by-election.
As many as 44,557 voters are registered to cast their ballot.
On the eve of the by-election, the Electoral Commission, led by chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, held a stakeholders' meeting at the district tally centre.
Candidates, political parties, security agencies, local government leaders, the media and other stakeholders gathered to discuss polling day arrangements.
Byabakama urged all stakeholders to uphold the law, promote peaceful participation and work together to ensure a free, fair and credible electoral process.
Idah Nabayiga of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) will go head-to-head with Nakimuli's sister, Irene Nampala, who was picked by NUP as the opposition party's flagbearer.
Independent candidates are also in the race.
On the eve of the by-election, the Electoral Commission, led by chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, held a stakeholders' meeting at the district tally centre.
Candidates, political parties, security agencies, local government leaders, the media and other stakeholders gathered to discuss polling day arrangements.
Byabakama urged all stakeholders to uphold the law, promote peaceful participation and work together to ensure a free, fair and credible electoral process.
Idah Nabayiga of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) will go head-to-head with Nakimuli's sister, Irene Nampala, who was picked by NUP as the opposition party's flagbearer.
Independent candidates are also in the race.
Meanwhile, in the lead up to polling day, EC boss Byamakama ordered the reopening of 17 ballot boxes for verification due to wrong seal allocation.
The electoral materials were delivered to Kalangala Electoral Commission Headquarters in Kizzi village, Kalangala Town Council, on Monday.
While verifying them, it was discovered that the seal numbers on the black boxes did not match with the ones written on the delivery report.
Although this triggered some concerns, Byabakama assured that the integrity of the election materials was intact.
"The materials were not tampered with and islands across the 115 polling stations will cast their votes tomorrow [Wednesday] starting at 7am and ending at 4pm," he said.
The results will be tallied at the Kalangala District Council Hall, which is the main tally centre for this byelection.
The electoral materials were delivered to Kalangala Electoral Commission Headquarters in Kizzi village, Kalangala Town Council, on Monday.
While verifying them, it was discovered that the seal numbers on the black boxes did not match with the ones written on the delivery report.
Although this triggered some concerns, Byabakama assured that the integrity of the election materials was intact.
"The materials were not tampered with and islands across the 115 polling stations will cast their votes tomorrow [Wednesday] starting at 7am and ending at 4pm," he said.
The results will be tallied at the Kalangala District Council Hall, which is the main tally centre for this byelection.