My favorite way to unwind and also re-energize is to do things that make me happy, including educating self on current affairs.
I do so by listening to recordings of online conversations and or tune in to live spaces, playing in the background, as I do other enjoyable things – like community with nature, cooking my favorite dish, taking a long shower, etc.
It is how I got to learn of the unfortunate death of a significant woman legislator in her prime. Conversations on the manner of her death and contributory factors of her death are triggering.
And so, for the past couple of days, my unwind sessions have not yielded peace in and with self.
Once more, the debate on fibroids is trending in Uganda. This time round, however, sadly, it is because of the ‘high profile death’ of a member of parliament (MP).
Hon. Helen Nakimuli, now deceased, was the Woman MP representing Kalangala District in the 11th Parliament and the MP elect to the 12th Parliament in the same role.
From what I have gleaned from media reports, she drove herself to hospital. And those claiming were close to her, reveal she was expecting no complications from undergoing surgery to remove a fibroid(s); a surgery some are referring to as “not major” and “minor”.
I am triggered. Why would you do that?
As one who had to go through surgery to remove a fibroid and who suffered the devastating effects of being afflicted with one that colonized my uterus for years, I am triggered by insensitive characterizations of surgery to remove fibroids.
In a hospital room in Edinburgh, Scotland, with the surgeon who performed the procedure, keyhole surgery, to remove the fibroid which had colonized my uterus. Surgery is among healthcare services in Uganda we fear the most, often due to a fear of the believed poor quality of service that we get – pre, during and post procedure.
Genuine medical professionals and persons such as I who have been afflicted by fibroids are unlikely to refer to surgery to remove fibroids as minor or not major.
Far from it. I know for a fact that surgeries to remove fibroids are often a last resort medical intervention, when all else has failed; and at that stage, those procedures will more likely be major surgeries.
For context, when I was afflicted with fibroids and experiencing significant pains during my monthly woman-cycle, in order to enable me to understand how come, doctors explained to me that my body was interpreting the fibroid as a nine-months old baby ready to be birthed. As in, the pain I experienced was similar to the pain an expectant mother experiences as the baby signals it is time to be birthed – and her body initiates contractions to push the baby out. The pain of giving birth.
From media reports, those who claim close to the late Nakimuli, say she had experienced sustained stomach pains during the days leading up to her surgery. My educated speculation is that by the time that she got to hospital, her body had taken a significant beating and was already weak.
Depending on how she was medically managed pre-surgery, there is a possibility that at the time of her surgery, she was anemic. I speculate so, because among pre-fibroid-surgery preparations my doctors did for me was to medically induce my body into menopause, to stop the monthly pains and bleeding.
In addition, I was put on a diet to ensure my blood levels were raised pre-surgery.
For context, among primary causes of fibroid-induced death, according to empirical evidence, is Severe Anemia. Others include: Pulmonary Embolism or Deep Vein Thrombosis, Spontaneous Rapture or Hemorrhage, Renal Failure, Sepsis, and Leiomyosarcoma, among others.
Back to the point. Some of the comments about late Nakimuli’s decision and choice to have surgery done at a “private facility specializing in women’s health services,” Alexandra Medical Centre, are jaw-dropping to say the least.
A significant influencer, in a video on TikTok, for example, said something to the effect that “fibroids are normal,” but I think he meant common. If the latter holds true, yes, many women have fibroids. And, yes, in many cases, fibroids do not adversely affect women’s health to the extent of needing surgery.
Irrespective, however, fibroids are an abnormality, they are not normal.
While expressing incredulity that women are dying from procedures to remove fibroids, the influencer in the same TikTok video, lambasted late Nakimuli, a wealthy MP, according to him, for going to an inferior or was it a low class or was it low-capacity healthcare facility to get the surgery done.
I am triggered. Why would you do that?
I am not saying do not hold accountable Alexandra Medical Centre and the specific medical personnel that did the procedure, but please let us do so with responsibility.
Sadly, late Nakimuli is not the first and will not be the last woman to die from fibroid-induced death. This reality should be the major focus of debate current, I think. With the view of reducing the incidences of fibroid-induced deaths.
Research findings indicate that risks associated with treatment of fibroids include Surgical Complications and Uterine Fibroid Embolization. How then as a nation may we reduce frequency of such complications occurring? Answering questions such as this should be gist of current debates.
Of what good is it to us, as a nation, for the Leader of Opposition in Parliament to focus his attention to purposeless lamentation that inflames the public?
To the extent some are emboldened to insinuate ‘medical-murder.’ I mean, why else would the political affiliations of the owner of Alexandra Medical Centre be of interest in relation to Nakimuli’s death?
Why even make mention of the political affiliation of the owner of the medical center?
Are we to believe late Nakimuli did not already know and chose the facility based on her own due diligence for its competence to provide her with the healthcare services she sought and paid for?
I am triggered, why would you do that?
According to media reports, tomorrow, Wednesday, 22nd April 2026, the remains of late Nakimuli will lay in state in the August House, as part of the “formal tribute and vigil” for the late by her fellow legislators.
I pray the Speaker of Parliament, the Right Honorable Anita Annet Among, and all other Woman MPs, including the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, utilize this opportunity to highlight the plight of women in Uganda.
In particular, the plight of women as it relates to insufficient healthcare services provision for that which is uniquely necessary for womanhood.
During or after her send-off vigil at Parliament, may we read and hear of a bi-partisan resolution, the Nakimuli Resolution, of the 11th Parliament, on women’s healthcare services provision.
May the soul of the late Nakimuli find eternal rest, I pray.
the Humanist view 
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