On the dusty streets and roads of Mukono, a mother sells a handful of tomatoes from a woven basket. The sun is scorching, the customers are few, and the money she earns will barely buy supper. Yet when the call for change reaches her neighborhood, she spares a coin, not because she can afford it, but because she believes a better future is worth the sacrifice.
It is for women like her that Sheila Amanio Dravile, fondly known as Namugaru, has stepped forward to seek the position of Woman Member of Parliament for Mukono district.
Sheila declared her intention to contest in 2026 under the National Unity Platform ticket with a mission to confront poverty, land injustices and the deepening socio economic crisis she says has been created by failed leadership.
Her message is already resonating with voters who feel neglected and are determined to reclaim their voice.
Her political work is rooted in activism, grassroots mobilization and a strong belief in the power of the people.
Speaking at a recent NUP fundraising drive in Mukono, launched after the party was excluded from iPod funding, she said the willingness of ordinary citizens to give even their smallest savings is proof of their readiness for change.
“If someone poor is willing to give their last penny, it shows they are willing to go over and above to get the change they want,” she told the crowd. “They know their suffering is caused by leadership. And they believe NUP will represent their voices.”
The fundraising, which welcomes contributions from as little as 100 shillings, has become a symbol of defiance against what Sheila calls state capture.
She says the system has deliberately impoverished communities while blocking their economic opportunities. In Mukono, she points to issues such as fishermen barred from their work, the absence of a central market, collapsing education standards, unaffordable school fees and hospitals without functional healthcare.
A People Centered Approach
Sheila’s political strategy is personal. She connects with people in their everyday lives whether in church services, burial ceremonies, weddings or community gatherings.
As an economist, she focuses on boosting household incomes through skills training, financial independence programs for youth and single mothers, and support for local agriculture.
“When households are empowered financially, they can afford education, healthcare and dignity,” she says. “We must give our people skills, not just handouts.”
She is also a strong advocate for women’s rights, especially in land ownership. She intends to popularize the new succession law to protect women from being pushed off family land, which she describes as an economic and cultural crisis that erases livelihoods.
Advocacy, Policy and Social Justice
Sheila promises to push for better roads, functional markets, menstrual hygiene support for schoolgirls and genuine Universal Primary Education.
She plans to advocate for agricultural reforms to replace various ‘government development’ programs, which she believes are failing communities.
Not a Stranger to the People
Although new in the NUP primaries, Sheila is a familiar face in Mukono. Her ten years as a Rotarian have brought water projects, youth empowerment programs and health camps to the district.
Voters, she says, are ready for new leadership. “They have appraised the current leaders and are ready to try someone new who will fight for them, speak for them and stand with them.”
As 2026 draws closer, Sheila Amanio Dravile’s campaign is building momentum. With the people’s trust, she says she is ready to be Mukono’s unapologetic voice in Parliament.
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