Rhoda Kalema

Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema (10 May 1929 – 3 August 2025) was a Ugandan politician known as the country's Mother of Parliament.[1][2]

Early life and education

Rhoda Kalema was born on 10 May 1929,[3] one of 24 children of Martin Luther Nsibirwa, who was twice appointed Katikkiro (Prime Minister) of the Kingdom of Buganda in Uganda.[2][4] She was born on 10 May 1929 in the Butikkiro, Protectorate of Uganda, the official residence of the Katikkiro, in the Mengo neighbourhood of Kampala.[4]

Kalema attended Gayaza Junior School for a year, and then King's College Budo for the remainder of her primary and secondary schooling. She enrolled in a commercial course in secretarial training, and worked as secretary and bursar at Gayaza High School until 1949.[4] In 1950, she married William Kalema, a teacher at King's College Budo who later became a renowned politician and Government Minister of Commerce.[5] In 1955 she commenced a one-year course in Social Work and Social Administration at Newbattle Abbey, an Adult Education College in the United Kingdom,[2] followed by a Diploma in Social Studies at the University of Edinburgh.[6]

Political career

In 1961, Grace Ibingira and Adoko Nyekon initiated Rhoda Kalema into the Uganda People's Congress. She was a junior minister of Culture and Community Development in Binaisa's administration.[2] However, after the death of her husband in 1972—he was abducted and killed during Idi Amin's regime[5]—she gave up political participation until 1979 when, after Idi Amin's downfall, she joined the National Consultative Council (NCC) formed by the Uganda National Liberation Front under Edward Rugumayo, as one of two female representatives.[2] In 1980 she was one of the founding members of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM).[7]

She was arrested three times by the State agents: on 23 January 1979; on 21 February 1981 (when she and other politicians were arrested after numerous attacks on police stations[8]) and on 4 February 1983.[2]

Kalema became Deputy Minister of Public Service from 1989 until 1991 under President Yoweri Museveni. In 1994, she stood for the Constituent Assembly elections[9] as the Kiboga representative, and defeated 8 male opponents after scooping two thirds of the entire vote.[10] She later retired from politics after grooming a number of notable politicians such as Ruth Nankabirwa, the Chief Whip in Uganda's Cabinet.[11]

She was honoured in 1996 by Uganda's Forum for Women in Democracy "as a transformative leader".[12] On 13 March 2018, she received the Sudreau Global Justice Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pepperdine University School of Law and the Ugandan Judiciary.[13]

Death

Kalema died on 3 August 2025, at the age of 96.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ Katungulu, Amon. "Trailblazing Ugandan Politician Rhoda Kalema Dies at 96". Nilepost News. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Magoba, Brian (21 April 2012). "Rhoda Kalema: Defying the odds". Daily Monitor. Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  3. ^ Rhoda Nakibuuka Kalema, "Mother of Parliament," dies at 96
  4. ^ a b c Wambi, Michael. "At 88, Rhoda Kalema Plans to Publish her Autobiography". Uganda Radio Network. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  5. ^ a b "William Kalema the champion that never returned home". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  6. ^ Commonwealth Secretariat (2000). Women in Politics :Voices from the Commonwealth. Pall Mall, London, United Kingdom: Commonwealth Secretariat. p. 148. ISBN 0-85092-569-X.
  7. ^ Tripp, Aili Mari (2012). Women and Politics in Uganda. University of Wisconsin Pres. ISBN 9780299164836. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  8. ^ Harrison, Charles (14 February 1981). "More Uganda politicians arrested". The Times (London).
  9. ^ "History of Parliament". www.parliament.go.ug. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  10. ^ "WOMEN AND POWER: CELEBRATING RHODA KALEMA". fowode.blogspot.ug. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Cabinet Members". www.parliament.go.ug. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  12. ^ Tamale, Sylvia (1999), When hens begin to crow : gender and parliamentary politics in Uganda, Westview Press, ISBN 978-1-4294-8920-1
  13. ^ "Judiciary, Pepperdine University Honor Female Achievers". www.judiciary.go.ug. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  14. ^ Katungulu, Amon (3 August 2025). "Trailblazing Politician Rhoda Kalema Dies at 96". NilePost. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
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