KALANGALA — The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has reclaimed the Kalangala District Woman Member of Parliament seat after its candidate, Idah Nabayiga, secured a decisive victory in Wednesday's by-election.
According to the official results declared by Returning Officer Ronald Agaba, Nabayiga polled 12,642 votes, defeating her closest rival, National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Irene Nampala, who garnered 7,474 votes.
Independent candidate Sharifah Babirye came third with 244 votes, while fellow independent Flavia Hellen Nagawa received 217 votes.
Agnes Nasuuna, also an independent candidate, polled 34 votes.
The election recorded a total of 20,611 valid votes, alongside 427 rejected ballots and 67 spoilt ballot papers, bringing the total number of ballots counted to 21,038.
Agaba declared Nabayiga the duly elected Woman Representative for Kalangala District at around 2.30 am at the district tally centre.
Speaking shortly after her victory, Nabayiga thanked the people of Kalangala for the overwhelming support and pledged to be guided by the NRM manifesto in delivering services to the island district.
"As a candidate of the NRM, the party has a manifesto that addresses key sectors including education, healthcare and economic empowerment. I will follow the NRM manifesto to ensure that I bring services nearer to my people of Kalangala," she said.
Nabayiga noted that Kalangala faces unique challenges due to its geographical nature, with residents from distant islands often spending heavily on transport to access essential services. She said improving service delivery across the district's islands would be one of her key priorities during her five-year term.
The legislator-elect particularly highlighted healthcare as a major concern, noting that many residents are forced to travel long distances and incur additional costs after being referred to Masaka for treatment due to the absence of a fully equipped hospital in Kalangala.
She pledged to lobby government for the establishment of a fully equipped hospital in the district to improve access to quality healthcare services and reduce the burden on island communities.
Nabayiga also pledged to advocate for the fishing community, one of the district's main economic pillars alongside palm oil growing. She said she would engage relevant authorities on regulations affecting the sector while promoting compliance with fisheries laws.
The legislator-elect further noted that some fishermen engage in illegal fishing practices because they cannot afford approved fishing gear and promised to work with government agencies to find lasting solutions that support livelihoods while protecting fish stocks.
The victory marks a significant political comeback for the ruling party in the island district following an intense campaign that saw President Yoweri Museveni and several senior NRM leaders traverse the district canvassing support for the party flag bearer.
The by-election was held to fill the vacancy left by the death of former Woman MP Hellen Nakimuli earlier this year.
Nabayiga's victory gives the NRM a winning margin of more than 5,000 votes and strengthens the party's foothold in the district ahead of the country's next electoral cycle.