Vice President Maj (Rtd) Jessica Alupo has described the late former Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament, Helen Nakimuli, as a dedicated, active, and committed legislator who made a notable contribution to both Parliament and her constituency.
Nakimuli passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Alexandra Medical Centre in Kitante, Kampala, shortly after undergoing surgery to treat uterine fibroids.
She was 40.
Speaking during a special sitting of Parliament on Wednesday, Alupo paid tribute to Nakimuli’s service, highlighting her consistent participation in parliamentary debates, committee work, and grassroots mobilisation.
“She was a friend to all, a very active Member of Parliament whose presence was evident in committee work, in debate, and on the ground with her constituents,” she said, as legislators observed a moment of silence in her honour.
Alupo also noted Nakimuli’s strong faith, describing her as a devoted Orthodox Christian whom she had encountered on several occasions in church gatherings across the country.
Born on July 2, 1985, in Lukuba village, Kyamuswa Sub-county in Kalangala District, Nakimuli was a politician, legislator, and athlete.
She was the daughter of Christopher Walusimbi, a Greek Orthodox priest, and Maria Nalwanga Walusimbi, a former Kalangala District councillor.
Nakimuli began her education at Bukasa Primary School before joining Hormisdallen Primary School in Bweyogerere.
She later attended Our Lady of Good Counsel in Gayaza for her O-Level and St Augustine Secondary School in Wakiso for A-Level, where she served as head girl. She later joined Makerere University for her higher education.
She was elected to the 11th Parliament in 2021 as the Woman Representative for Kalangala District on the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket, defeating Aidah Nabayiga. She also served as the party’s Head of Communication and Anti-Corruption.
Beyond politics, Nakimuli was widely recognised for her involvement in sports, especially volleyball, which she played from 1998 and later captained at the East Africa Parliamentary Games in Arusha, Tanzania. She was also associated with COBAP Volleyball Club.
In her community work, she supported widows in accessing legal aid in property disputes, donated relief items to vulnerable families, and assisted households affected by disasters such as house fires.
She also advocated for inclusion of island districts like Buvuma and Namayingo in government programmes such as Emyooga.
Nakimuli was honoured with an ecclesiastical medal by His Divine Beatitude Theodore II of Alexandria in recognition of her service to the Orthodox Church, Uganda, and humanity.
She will be laid to rest on Thursday, April 22, in Luweero following a funeral service at St Nicholas Cathedral, Namungoona.
