By Outspoken activist and former Kampala Woman MP candidate Dr Stella Nyanzi has launched a scathing attack on her 2021 electoral rival Shamim Malende, accusing the ailing legislator of awful performance during her term in Parliament and branding her a disappointment to Kampala voters.
In a sizzling post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Nyanzi questioned Malende’s legislative track record, representation efforts, and engagement in key parliamentary processes over the last five years. The post coincided with news that Malende had once again been flown to Nairobi for medical treatment, sparking fresh public concern over her health and performance.
“What bills did Malende propose? What laws did she amend? When did she stand on the floor of parliament to debate any of the laws in the past five years?” Nyanzi questioned.
“Apart from receiving and eating a government salary, how has Malende served her voters?”
The National Unity Platform (NUP) legislator, who rose to fame as a fearless human rights lawyer before joining Parliament in 2021, has faced a series of health challenges over the past year. However, Nyanzi appeared unapologetic in her critique, suggesting that the people of Kampala were shortchanged by her leadership.
The attack drew a flood of reactions online with a section of online users lashing at Nyanzi for bitterness and cruelty toward a sick woman.
, “You need to heal from Kakwenza’s heartbreak,” posted Bushenyi Buoy, referring to Nyanzi’s past romantic entanglement with exiled novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija.
“You are just dense… We love her and to assure u, we shall vote her back to that office,” retorted another user.
“If you still contest against Her, we shall still vote for her and this time with over 85% of the votes During the first years of her term when she was healthy, she was among the top 5 MPs Kakana weefuge” Emma Ssenyonga responded
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Critics of Nyanzi’s outburst argued that Malende’s legacy should not be judged solely on parliamentary speeches, pointing out her impact in defending political prisoners and vulnerable groups outside Parliament.
“She’s scored well outside parliament defending the oppressed in courts. I think she’s good in courts than in parliament,” wrote kaweesi umar.
Wile others accused her of bitterness to a sick colleague, some users backed Nyanzi’s brutal assessment
Star world wonder “Sometimes am always against what you write but at least here you have a point, am also with you, was she voted only to remove or rescue people in prison or to help the natives, so many people are totally not beneficial out of her leadership,…”
Still, others used the moment to revive an old debate on the relevance of the Woman MP seat.
“Woman MP?? Such a redundant office. Are women that marginalised really?” asked Mbuzzi Nzadde, sparking a gendered discourse on affirmative action.
In 2021, Nyanzi contested under the FDC ticket and lost to Malende, who was riding on a NUP wave and the support of Bobi Wine’s People Power movement.
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