KAMPALA- The President of Uganda on behalf of the Government of Uganda, has ordered that the Late Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema will be accorded a State Burial.
Rhoda Kalema passed away on Sunday morning, 3rd August 2025 at Nairobi Hospital in Kenya, where she had been admitted.
According to Hon. Milly Babalanda, the Minister for Presidency, during the burial program, the Government will provide Security at all venues, all the Security Agencies have been duly briefed and key deployments have been undertaken at all venues to secure both life and property of all mourners.
“The Uganda Police Force has been directed to oversee all the Official burial ceremonies including the gun salute at the burial on Saturday 9th August, 2025. The neighborhood is encouraged to remain calm during the gun salute moment.” Remarked Babalanda.
The Government of Uganda has constituted a hybrid of the National Organizing Committee Chaired by the Minister for Presidency – Hon. Milly Babirye Babalanda with representatives from the family
The body has arrived in the country today around mid day and it was received by the family. After the body has been taken to funeral home, on Thursday it will be taken to St Paul Church, Namirembe for a requiem mass.
Hon. Lay Canon Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema was born on 10 May 1929. She was one of 24 children of Martin Luther Nsibirwa, who was twice appointed Katikkiro (Prime Minister) of the Kingdom of Buganda in Uganda.
The Late attended Gayaza Junior School for a year, and then King’s College Budo for the remainder of her primary and secondary schooling.
She enrolled in a commercial course in secretarial training, and on completion, worked as secretary and bursar at Gayaza High School until 1949.
In 1950, she married William Kalema, a teacher at King’s College Budo who later became a renowned politician and Government Minister of Commerce. He was later murdered in 1972, during Idi Amin’s Regime.
In 1955, she pursued studies in Social Work and Social Administration at Newbattle Abbey, in the United Kingdom, followed by a Diploma in Social Studies at the University of Edinburgh.
Political career
The late had an illustrious political career spanning from the 1960s when the Late Grace Ibingira and Adoko Nekyon initiated her into the Uganda People’s Congress.
Following the disappearance of her husband in 1972 during Idi Amin’s regime, she gave up political participation until 1979 when, after Idi Amin’s downfall, she joined the National Consultative Council (NCC) formed by the Uganda National Liberation Front under Edward Rugumayo, as one of two female representatives. She was a deputy minister of Culture and Community Development in Binaisa’s regime.
In 1980 she was one of the founding members of the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM).
During her political career, the late was arrested three times by the State Research Bureau: on January 23, 1979, during the Amin Regime; in February, 1981 (when she and other politicians were arrested and detained at Katabi Military Barracks, after numerous attacks on police stations) and on February 4, 1983 under the Obote Regime on what were deemed to be subversive actions by the 2 governments.
She was appointed Deputy Minister of Public Service from 1989 until 1991 by H.E President Yoweri Museveni. In 1994, she stood for the Constituent Assembly elections as the Kiboga District representative, and defeated 8 male opponents after scooping two thirds of the entire vote.
She later retired from politics after grooming a number of notable politicians such as Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, a Minister in the NRM Government.
