Parliament has paid tribute to the former District Woman Representative for Ngora, Stella Apolot Isodo, who passed away on Saturday, January 17 2026 at Kampala Hospital.

During a special sitting on Tuesday, 21 January 2026, Hon. Hellen Adoa, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (Fisheries), who moved the motion to pay tribute on behalf of the Prime Minister, said Isodo had an unwavering commitment to empowering women and was active in mobilising farmers.

According to Adoa, Isodo changed the lives of women in Teso and also advocated for an increase in the budget for the agriculture ministry.

“She formed so many groups where women were engaged in agriculture, and she made women get involved in agriculture and business. Many people got to know that agriculture was not simply about garden work but the entire chain because of Isodo,” she said.

Adoa added that Isodo also advocated for the stocking of Lake Nyaguo and the provision of tractors to every district.

The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, said Isodo died at a very young age of 51 and was not a politician of convenience.

“She consistently championed issues of women, farmers and youth and was a person of integrity, she was of a gentle soul but very calm,” he said.

Ssenyonyi added that the deceased was unable to campaign during her last election because she was unwell.

Hon. Lucy Akello (FDC, Amuru District Woman Representative) said Isodo stood firmly by what she believed in. She noted that Isodo once approached her to sign up for a cooperative society and urged government to ensure that cooperatives are revived.

Akello hailed Samuel Isodo, the deceased’s husband for campaigning for his wife while she was bedridden.

Hon. Lilian Aber, the Minister of State, Office of the Prime Minister (Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees) described Isodo as a peace builder.

“When you have a conversation with her, she was intelligent, very humble and feared the Lord,” said Aber, also Kitgum District Woman Representative

Hon. Milton Muwuma (NRM, Kigulu County South) said Isodo had a keen interest in food production and processing and believed Teso was a very productive region that needed support.

Hon. Geoffrey Ekanya (FDC, Tororo County North) said Isodo worked across the political divide while remaining loyal to the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

Isodo, Hon. Yusuf Nsibambi (FDC, Mawokota County South) said,  improved the lives of many people in Teso and Uganda at large. He recalled an incident in which Isodo comforted him to “take it easy” when some fellow Members mocked him for being unwell.

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among reminded Members to clearly indicate their next of kin and beneficiaries in their official documents to avoid disputes over resources in the event of a Member’s death. Among added that, in Isodo’s case, she had clearly stated her next of kin.

Among called on government to revive cooperatives and proposed for an inquiry into the state of cooperatives.

The Speaker also added that Isodo, who was diabetic, fell ill and was referred to India for treatment. However, after her return, she was not the same. She revealed that Isodo’s death was not due to politics but a pre-existing medical condition.

Among also amended the motion to include the revival and promotion of cooperative unions in the country in remembrance of the late legislator, as well as support for women to transition from subsistence farming to commercial farming and to add value to their products.

The late Hon. Isodo, who is survived by a husband and three children, will be buried on Saturday, 24 January 2026 in her ancestral village in Osigiria, Ngora Town Council.