National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Idah Nabayiga, has been declared winner of the Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election, held on Wednesday.
Kalangala District Returning Officer Ronald Agaba announced the results at the district council hall declaring Nabayiga the winner after she defeated four other candidates for the vacant parliamentary seat.
According to the official tally, Nabayiga polled 12,642 votes, comfortably beating her closest challenger, Irene Nampala of the National Unity Platform (NUP), who garnered 7,474 votes — a winning margin of 5,168 votes
The other contenders were Sharifah Babirye (244 votes), Hellen Flavia Nagawa (217 votes), and Agnes Nasuuna (34 votes). A total of 20,611 valid votes were cast, out of 21,038 ballots counted, with 427 rejected and 67 spoilt.
The by-election was called to fill the seat left vacant following the death of former Kalangala District Woman MP Helen Nakimuli in April this year.
Speaking shortly after her victory was announced, Nabayiga thanked the people of Kalangala for the mandate and pledged to prioritize improvements in healthcare and push for the restoration of fishing rights for communities affected by fishing restrictions.
“I thank the people of Kalangala for believing in me. I will work hard to address challenges in healthcare and ensure that fishermen’s concerns are represented and resolved,” she said.
NRM Director for Mobilization Rosemary Nansubuga Seninde welcomed the win, thanking Kalangala residents for backing the ruling party and urging them to remain united in pushing for the district’s development.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama commended voters, election officials, and security agencies for a largely peaceful process, saying the by-election went off without major incident. He did, however, criticize security personnel who moved around in vehicles without registration plates during the polling period, warning that such conduct risks intimidating voters and undermining public confidence in the process.
Nabayiga’s declaration brings to a close a closely watched contest in the island district, with residents now turning their attention to her representation in Uganda’s 12th Parliament.
