Today, the body of the late Hellen Nakimuli has been transferred from Mulago National Referral Hospital and will be transported by ferry at 1:00pm to Kalangala District as investigations into her death continue. According to the tentative programme, the body is expected to remain in Kalangala on Monday and Tuesday, where a vigil will be […]
Today, the body of the late Hellen Nakimuli has been transferred from Mulago National Referral Hospital and will be transported by ferry at 1:00pm to Kalangala District as investigations into her death continue.
According to the tentative programme, the body is expected to remain in Kalangala on Monday and Tuesday, where a vigil will be held at her father’s home.
Nakimuli, the Woman Member of Parliament for Kalangala District, Uganda’s island region on Lake Victoria , died on Sunday following a surgical procedure at Alexandria Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Her body was taken to Mulago for a postmortem report, however, the results are not yet conclusive because different tests are still on going.
According to the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi, the postmortem report is not yet out, meaning the exact cause of death has not been confirmed.
Ssenyonyi said toxicology tests are still ongoing as part of efforts to establish what could have led to the legislator’s death. He added that authorities are also conducting an audit at Alexandria Medical Center to determine what exactly may have happened during the procedure.
“The cause of death is not yet ascertained but they are carrying out several other tests you know with toxicologists to establish the management of the whole process at Alexandra Medical Centre we have also been told by them that they are going to head to Alexandra Medical Centre to get all the reports from them to do an audit of the hospital and the process the procedure as it was done they are doing it as medical persons and police and so on that’s the update that they have given us.” He says
Relatives of the deceased have indicated that Nakimuli died shortly after undergoing surgery to remove fibroids, although official investigations are still underway.
Hon Nakiwala was survived by a daughter currently in senior one, who also arrived this morning to Mulago Hospital. The teenage girl looked exhausted and weary from grieving her mother’s sudden death.
Meanwhile, a tentative burial programme has been released. On Wednesday, the body will be returned to Parliament of Uganda for a special tribute by Members of Parliament. Later the same day, another vigil will be held at the offices of the National Unity Platform.
Ssenyonyi recounts his final conversation with the late Hellen Nakimuli, saying she informed him she was going for what she described as a minor surgical procedure before her sudden death.
Ssenyonyi said Nakimuli, who had been actively coordinating parliamentary business, spoke to him shortly before she went to hospital.
“She is our shadow minister for information, so she normally helps coordinate meetings of Members of Parliament. We had a planned meeting regarding the sovereignty bill and other issues. Yesterday she was updating me about that meeting and at that time she told me, I am driving to hospital to get a minor surgery, but in the evening I will give you a further update in readiness for our day regarding the sovereignty bill.” he said
He added that he sought more details about where she was going.
“So I asked her which hospital she was going to for the surgery, and she told me Alexandra Medical Centre. I asked her a few questions about the hospital and the procedure, and she gave me an update. I told her, okay, we pray that all goes well, I wait to hear from you.” he added
Ssenyonyi said it was later in the day that they received the devastating news.
“Unfortunately, when she went in for surgery she did not make it out. She was pronounced dead at Alexandria Medical Centre. It is extremely, extremely unfortunate.”
He said the family, Parliament, and the nation are now left with unanswered questions.
“Of course there are too many questions out there. The family has questions, the nation has questions. We hope those questions get to be answered because as we have been told, the postmortem has not yet ascertained the cause of death. They are carrying out further tests with toxicologists.”
Ssenyonyi also revealed that authorities are preparing to investigate the hospital process.
“We have also been told they are going to Alexandria Medical Centre to get all the reports and do an audit of the hospital and the procedure as it was done.”
The late Nakimuli entered Parliament after winning the Kalangala Woman MP seat on the NUP ticket and was known for advocating for improved services and development in island districts, particularly issues affecting fishing communities in Kalangala.
