KALANGALA – National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate Idah Nabayiga has been declared the winner of the Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament by-election, securing a decisive victory over her closest challenger, National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Irene Nampala.
According to official results released by the Electoral Commission, Nabayiga garnered 12,642 votes, representing more than half of all valid votes cast, while Nampala finished second with 7,474 votes.
The results were formally declared by Kalangala District Returning Officer Ronald Agaba at the Kalangala District Council Hall at 1:53 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
Three independent candidates trailed the two leading contenders. Sharifah Babirye polled 244 votes, Hellen Flavia Nagawa secured 217 votes, while Agnes Nasuuna received 34 votes.
The final tally showed that 20,611 valid votes were cast in the election. Electoral officials also recorded 427 rejected ballots and 67 spoilt ballot papers, bringing the total number of ballot papers counted to 21,038.
The by-election was held to fill the vacancy left by the late former Kalangala District Woman MP, Hellen Nakimuli.
The race attracted significant national attention and was closely contested between the ruling NRM and the opposition NUP. Polling day was marked by allegations from opposition leaders of voter intimidation, military interference, and electoral irregularities, claims that electoral authorities maintained did not affect the overall conduct of the exercise.
Under Section 72 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Returning Officer Ronald Agaba officially certified Nabayiga as the duly elected Woman Representative for Kalangala District after the completion of tallying and verification of results.
Nabayiga’s victory strengthens the NRM’s representation in Parliament and returns the Kalangala Woman MP seat to the ruling party following a highly watched electoral contest in the island district.
With the declaration, attention now shifts to the swearing-in of the MP-elect and her plans to address development priorities in Kalangala, including transport, healthcare, fisheries, tourism, and service delivery across the district’s island communities.
