Former Masaka MP Mubanda succumbs to COVID-19

NEWS  | MASAKA

Former Masaka district woman Member of Parliament and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer for the same seat, Freda Nanziri Kase Mubanda, has passed away.

Her death has been confirmed by her political assistant, Baale Mudasiru.

Mubanda died on Wednesday morning at a Nairobi hospital where she was receiving treatment after reportedly testing positive for COVID-19.

The 76-year-old popularly referred to as Mama Masaka and Girl Mubanda, represented Masaka in the 9th Parliament but lost in the 2016 elections to Democratic Party's Mary Babirye Kabanda. She was also the current chairperson of the NRM Women's League in Masaka.

Florence Namayanja the Bukoto East MP noted that she was not yet aware of the development.

"I need to get full confirmation before I proceed to comment. You know these days people declare others dead when they are still alive," Namayanja said.

The late Mubanda had been elected unopposed as the publicity secretary for Kilalaala-Kyamuyimbwa village council, Kabonera sub-county in local council elections held last year after other contestants pulled out of the race a day to the polls.

 She said her intention in the village council position was partly to appreciate the relevance of local council elections and add value to women council leadership.

She would later emerge victorious in the NRM primaries for the district woman MP.