Miria Obote (née Kalule; born 16 July 1936) is a Ugandan politician who was first lady of Uganda, and widow of former Prime Minister and President Milton Obote. She was a candidate in the 2006 Ugandan general election.

Background and Education

Miria Kalule was born in Kawempe, to Bulasio Kalule, a civil servant who worked with the Department of Road Maintenance in the Ministry of Works and his wife Malita. She attended Gayaza High School and later Makerere University. Miria Obote returned to Uganda from Zambia in October 2005, after 20 years in exile, to bury her husband. Two months later, she was elected as head of the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) and as its presidential candidate for the next election. The UPC was founded by her husband and led by him until his death. She garnered 0.6% of the vote in the February 23, 2006 presidential election, which was won by the sitting president, Yoweri Museveni.

Personal life

Miria married Milton Obote in November 1963 and they had 4 children, including Jimmy Akena, a Member of Parliament representing Lira Municipality. Milton Obote died on 10 October 2005 in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the age of 79; and received a state funeral in Kampala, Uganda, attended by President Yoweri Museveni.