Rhoda Nakibuka Nsibirwa Kalema

Rhoda Nakibuka Nsibirwa Kalema (10 May 1929 – 3 August 2025) was a Ugandan politician known as the country's "Mother of Parliament".

Early life and education

Born on 10 May 1929, one of the 24 children of Martin Luther Nsibirwa, twice Katikkiro (Prime Minister) of the Kingdom of Buganda. She grew up in Mengo, Kampala.

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

In 1950 she married William Kalema.

She later pursued Social Work and Social Administration at Newbattle Abbey (UK) and earned a Diploma in Social Studies at the University of Edinburgh.

Political career

Her husband William Wilberforce Kalema joined Kabaka Yekka (KY) Party and later served as Minister of Works and Housing in the Milton Obote’s administration.

After the tragic death of her husband in 1972 during Idi Amin's regime, she was not involved in politics until 1979, when she joined the National Consultative Council. Hon Rhoda Kalema served as deputy minister of Culture and Community Development in Godfrey Binaisa's administration. In 1980 she became a founding member of the Uganda Patriotic Movement. Rhoda was arrested several times by state agents in 1979, 1981 and 1983.

She later served as Deputy Minister of Public Service (1989–1991). In 1994 she was elected to the Constituent Assembly for Kiboga, winning two‑thirds of the vote. She later retired from frontline politics, mentoring many public leaders.

In her later years, Rhoda Kalema published her autobiography "My life is but a weaving"

Honours

- 1996: Recognised by the Forum for Women in Democracy as a transformative leader
- 2018: Sudreau Global Justice Lifetime Achievement Award (Pepperdine University School of Law and the Ugandan Judiciary)

Rhoda Kalema passed away on 3 August 2025, aged 96.