Kampala Woman MP Shamim Malende has been transferred to Nairobi, Kenya, for specialized medical care after her health significantly declined in recent days. The 38-year-old legislator had been receiving treatment at Nsambya Hospital in Kampala following injuries she sustained during a chaotic incident in Parliament late last year.
The incident, which occurred during heated deliberations over the controversial Coffee Amendment Bill in November 2024, saw plainclothes security personnel storm the parliamentary chambers, forcibly ejecting opposition MPs. Malende was among those physically assaulted during the fracas, suffering injuries to her chest and shoulder.
Initially admitted to Nsambya Hospital, Malende spent nearly two weeks under observation and was later discharged. However, her condition failed to improve, prompting medical authorities and her family to arrange for her transfer to Nairobi Hospital for more advanced treatment.
In a statement issued prior to her departure, Malende thanked the medical staff at Nsambya Hospital for their care and support. She also pledged to seek legal redress for the assault she endured, describing it as a grave violation of her rights and dignity.
“I was manhandled and humiliated simply for standing up for what I believe in,” she said. “We were protesting the restructuring of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority, and I will not rest until those responsible for this injustice are held accountable.”
Malende further highlighted the broader implications of the incident, expressing concern about the vulnerability of women in Uganda who may not have the platform or resources to pursue justice in similar situations.
The altercation took place after Speaker of Parliament Anita Among invoked disciplinary measures under Rule 88(2), leading to the suspension of 12 legislators, including Malende.
This is not the first time the MP has been flown abroad for treatment. In late 2022, Malende was hospitalized at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi after experiencing a medical emergency at her home in Kawempe. Tests later revealed she had ingested a harmful substance, leading to abdominal complications that required surgery. She spent close to three months recovering before returning to Uganda in early 2023.
Malende, a prominent opposition figure and vocal human rights advocate, has remained defiant despite repeated health setbacks, insisting that her commitment to justice and democratic principles remains unwavering.