Independent candidate Sharifah Babirye Kaala has pledged to push for fair prices for palm oil growers and improved welfare for fisherfolk if elected Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament.
Speaking during the Kalangala District Woman MP by-election debate hosted by NBS Television on Monday, Kaala highlighted her experience working with parliamentary forums and development initiatives focused on fisheries and children’s welfare.
“I have worked with Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Fisheries, I have worked with Ugandan Parliamentary Forum for Children, and I have also worked in Nakimuli Foundation,” she said.
Kaala said her legislative agenda would focus on improving livelihoods in the island district, particularly among agricultural and fishing communities that form the backbone of Kalangala’s economy.
“My vision for the people of Kalangala is to stand with the growers of palm oil to advocate for fair prices,” she said.
She also raised concerns about challenges facing fisherfolk, including displacement from fishing areas, which she said has worsened poverty in some communities.
“Several fisherfolk were chased away from the showers and this has worsened poverty,” she said.
Kaala further pointed to the role of the Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Fisheries, describing it as an organisation that supports fishing communities through advocacy and training on sustainable practices.
“Parliamentary Forum for Fisheries, the organization I work with, fights for the rights of fisherfolk. We teach them good fishing practices,” she said.
She added that her main goal is to serve as a direct voice for the people of Kalangala in Parliament.
“I want to stand with the people of Kalangala by being their voice,” she said.
The Kalangala District Woman MP race has attracted several contenders, including Idah Nabayiga of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Irene Nampala of the National Unity Platform (NUP), and independent candidates Agnes Nassuuna and Hellen Nagawa.
The by-election, scheduled for Wednesday, will determine the successor of the late Helen Nakimuli, who passed away on April 19, 2026, at Alexandra Medical Centre in Kampala after undergoing surgery.
