The National Unity Platform has set Thursday, May 14, 2026, as the official date for aspiring candidates to express interest in contesting for the Kalangala District Woman MP seat following the death of MP-elect Hellen Nakimuli.
The party said all interested candidates must physically submit their application documents at the NUP headquarters in Makerere Kavule, Kampala, as part of the process to identify the party’s flagbearer for the upcoming by-election.
Applicants will be required to present a valid NUP membership card, a Curriculum Vitae, certified academic documents, and a National Identity Card.
The party’s Elections Management Committee said the vetting exercise will be conducted transparently and in the best interests of the people of Kalangala.
According to the party roadmap, successful applicants will be vetted on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Shortlisted candidates will later undergo a technical assessment and participate in a public debate before the party leadership selects and announces the final candidate.
Among the names already emerging is Irene Nampala, the sister of the late Nakimuli, who has reportedly been fronted by family members to contest for the seat. However, party officials insist that she will be subjected to the same internal vetting procedures as all other aspirants.
The Kalangala Woman MP seat fell vacant after the death of Nakimuli, popularly known as “Mama Kalangala.” The outspoken NUP legislator died on April 19, 2026, at Alexandros Medical Center in Kampala following complications from surgery.
Nakimuli had just secured victory in the January 2026 general election and was expected to represent Kalangala District in the 12th Parliament before her untimely death prompted a by-election.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission of Uganda said the update of the voters’ register ends on May 12, 2026, while the display exercise will run from May 20 to May 29, 2026.
Candidate nominations are scheduled for June 4 and June 5, 2026, with campaigns set to run from June 8 to June 22 ahead of polling on June 24, 2026.
Speaking about concerns over violence and intimidation that have characterised previous by-elections in Uganda, NUP Electoral Commission Chairperson Harriet Chemutai said the party is prepared to safeguard its votes throughout the electoral process.
The Electoral Commission Chairperson, Simon Byabakama, urged all stakeholders to respect electoral laws and maintain peace during the exercise. He noted that because Nakimuli died before taking oath as a member of the 12th Parliament, the by-election is necessary to ensure Kalangala District is represented when the new Parliament begins sitting in June.
