NUP does what NRM does and Unveils Late MP’s Sister Irene Nampala for Kalangala By-Election

The National Unity Platform (NUP) has officially named Irene Nampala as its flag bearer for the upcoming Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election.

The announcement, made at the party’s headquarters in Makerere-Kavule, Kampala, by NUP Election Management Committee Chairperson Harriet Chemutai, follows an intense internal vetting and field assessment process that drew 14 initial female aspirants.

Nampala is the elder sister of the late Kalangala Woman MP, Hellen Nakimuli, who passed away last month following an unsuccessful medical surgery in Kampala.

The Selection Matrix: Vetting vs. Ground Surveys

To ensure localized appeal, the NUP Election Management Committee deployed a weighted grading system, allocating 40% of the final score to institutional vetting and 60% to field assessments conducted directly among voters across the Ssese Islands.

Out of 13 candidates who completed the vetting phase, Nampala emerged as the definitive frontrunner, scoring 68 points. Her closest challenger, Jesca Nassiwa Tusabe, finished second with 48.7 points.

Top NUP Aspirants Scoreboard:

From Tourism Executive to the Political Frontline

Born on Bukasa Island in Kyamuswa Sub-county, Kalangala District, Nampala boasts a strong background in private sector administration.

• Education: Attended Kaganda Learning Centre, Bishop Dunstan Secondary School, and Chwa II Memorial College.

• Professional Background: Built a career in Uganda’s tourism and hospitality sector, working with Gorilla Tours and Habari Travel as an overall operations supervisor. Her role heavily involved coordinating logistics and linking international travelers to the tourism potential of Bukasa Island.

Nampala noted that her entry into frontline politics followed exhaustive consultations with local leaders, supporters, and her father, Rev. Fr. Christopher Walusimbi.

“I want to continue the unfinished work started by my sister. I will advocate for improved health services, better island medical access, transport networks, and sustainable tourism empowerment initiatives,” Nampala stated.

Mixed Reactions and the Growing Shadow of the NRM

Nampala’s selection has generated mixed reactions at various landing sites. While family members like her brother, Photius Sekabira, note that voters are emotionally connected to Nakimuli’s legacy, some grassroots supporters worry Nampala lacks local visibility.

NUP Local Support Dynamics:
├── Sympathy Advantage (Voters emotionally tied to Nakimuli's legacy)
├── Structural Resistance (Some factions prefer well-known local activists)
└── Shrinking Opposition Space (NRM dominance on the District Council)

Political analysts Godfrey Sekisonge and Bambalazaabwe Semakula note that while “sympathy candidatures” are common in Uganda to ensure political continuity, NUP faces a drastically altered battlefield.

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has recently regained massive ground in Kalangala, capturing the LC5 Chairmanship and holding 18 out of 24 district council seats. NRM stalwarts believe their seasoned contender, Aidah Nabayiga—who holds over a decade of local name recognition—is well-positioned to reclaim the seat for the ruling party.

Official Electoral Commission Roadmap

With both major political parties mobilizing heavily on emotional and logistical fronts, the Independent Electoral Commission has released the definitive timeline for the Kalangala by-election:

• Official Candidate Nominations: June 10 – 11, 2026

• Open Campaign Window: June 12 – 22, 2026

• Polling Day / Voting: June 24, 2026