Fellow Countrymen and Countrywomen, on Sunday morning, 3rd August 2025 the Government of Uganda received the shocking news of the passing on of Hon. Lay Canon Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema, which occurred at Nairobi Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.
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.

She was Honoured in 1996 by Uganda's Forum for Women in Democracy "as a transformative leader".
On March 13, 2018, she received the Sudreau Global Justice Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pepperdine University School of Law and the Ugandan Judiciary.

She was a writer and gifted story teller, having published a book-My "My Life is But a Weaving,” where she recounts her journey through decades of service and sacrifice.

The Government of Uganda sincerely commiserates with the family, the Women Activists, the Buganda Kingdom as well as the rest of Ugandans on the passing away of an illustrious advocate of affirmative Action; and a Politician who held several high-ranking positions in Government.

She will be deeply missed not only by those who knew her; worked with her; or were led by her; but also, the fraternity of advocates for affirmative Action.
Accordingly, H.E. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, in line with Article 99 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda as amended which vests Executive Authority of Uganda in the President; has therefore directed that the Late. Hon. Lay Canon Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema be accorded an Official Burial.
Regarding Official Burial preparatory arrangements, 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 and thus agreed on the following tentative Programme:

Day Time Activity Venue
Wednesday 6th August 2025 09.45 am Body arrives at Entebbe Airport from Nairobi and is received by a few family members and close friends and the casket proceeds to the funeral Home Entebbe Airport
Thursday 7th August 2025 09:00am Church service at Namirembe Cathedral Namirembe Cathedral
06.00pm Vigil at the Late’s Home in Muyenga, Kalema Close Muyenga
Friday Morning 8th August 2025 10:00am Body leaves Kampala for Kiboga Late’s Final Resting place in Kiboga
Saturday 9th August 2025 Burial ceremony beginning with Prayers at 9.00 am and final send off at 2.00pm Final Resting place in Kiboga

The Government of Uganda will also cater for the following:
1.Providing 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.
2.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.
Rest in peace Hon. Lay Canon Rhoda Nakibuuka Nsibirwa Kalema
Issued by: 
Hon. Minister for the Presidency