President Yoweri Museveni has hailed Minister for presidency Milly Babalanda as good National Resistance Movement (NRM) Mobiliser
“I’m very happy to be here to thank God for the life of my daughter, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda. Babirye has been a good leader and mobilizer of the NRM. I found her here in Busoga with the women’s group; that’s how I got to know her,” President Museveni said.
He also thanked God for the Minister’s life after surviving the deadly Covid-19 in 2021.
“I’m very happy to be here to thank God for the life of my daughter Milly Babalanda. You heard that her life was in danger in the time of Corona. She got infected when she had just been appointed Minister but God still protected her, many people died of Covid-19 so we thank God for Milly Babalanda.”Museveni stressed.
President Museveni contributed Shs100 million for the construction of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the area and pledged to tarmack Kamuli road, Jinja – Budondo road and Walukoko- Luuka road.
The President made the remarks while officiating at a thanksgiving ceremony of Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, the Minister for Presidency at Iringa Township Primary School, Buyende District.
The President urged people of Busoga to fight poverty through wealth creation initiatives like agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT. He also urged them to embrace government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) to fight poverty.
“In the whole world, government jobs cannot be enough, and they cannot deal with the challenge of unemployment.
Most jobs are in the private sector ;manufacturing, services, agriculture and ICT. Here in Uganda public service jobs are just 480,000 but factories alone employ 1.2 million people,” he said.
The 3rd Deputy Prime Minister, Rt.Hon. Rukia Nakadama Isanga thanked the President for signing the Sugarcane (Amendment) Bill into law. She said the law will promote fair trade among the crop stakeholders.
She also hailed the President for reviving Busoga University, saying that the step is a very big milestone in promoting the education sector in Busoga.
On her part,Hon. Babalanda informed the President that they gathered to thank the Almighty God for giving her a second chance to live after going down with a life- threatening sickness. She hailed President Museveni for his intervention to save her life.
“Your Excellency; the Bible teaches us to always be thankful in everything we get or do so that our father in Heaven can see this and multiply our blessings.Your Excellency, I grew up in a humble but religious home. Because of this state of life, I developed a humble and meek character; growing through many hands of God-fearing individuals and persevering along the way,” she said.
She said in 2021, she almost lost her life to Covid-19. This happened when the President had just appointed her Minister for Presidency.
“I battled the virus but it had weakened me so much. Indeed, this was visibly manifested when I appeared for the swearing in ceremony. Nevertheless, I had to proceed and receive the office in that state but immediately returned to the hospital. I was indisposed for another six months. However, due to the Lord’s mercy, it was only my physical presence that was missed, the Office continued operating normally,” the Minister stated.
“I thank God that in the many scandals that have been registered in the country, where even intellectuals have been victims, your daughter Babalanda does not feature anywhere. I may not be rich, but I am contented with the chance you gave me to serve and I promise not to disappoint you as the appointing authority. I also pledge the same to the NRM government, to all the Ugandans and the people of Busoga.”se added.
At the same event, leaders in Busoga Sub-region requested President Museveni to contest as the NRM National Chairman and party flag bearer for the 2026 Presidential elections.
Speaking on behalf of the leaders, Hon. Babalanda revealed that during a sub region meeting she chaired on 3rd June, 2025 at Jinja City Hall, the leaders requested that for Seniority and Continuation of clear-headed leadership, and for the steady transformation of Busoga and the entire country; President Museveni should accept to contest at the forthcoming NRM Delegates Conference as the NRM National Chairman and party Presidential flag bearer (2026-2031).
The NRM Chairperson for Buyende, who is also a Member of Parliament for Budiope East, Hon. Moses Magogo, thanked President Museveni for the good leadership and for extending social services and the programs to their region,aimed at fighting poverty.
Hon. Magogo further commended the President for signing the sugarcane amendment bill into law and streamlining the fishing sector in the sub region.
According to Hon. Magogo, Buyende, Kaliro, and Namutumba topped the region in supporting NRM in the past presidential elections and assured him of massive mobilization to ensure other districts vote for NRM in the upcoming elections.
The ceremony was also attended by Ministers, Members of Parliament, NRM leaders, RDCs/RCCs, religious leaders, among other dignitaries.