Milly Babalanda

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Hajji Yunus Kakande upon his retention as the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President.

Your continued service in this strategic and sensitive government institution is a testament to the confidence, trust and recognition that H.E. the President of the Republic Uganda, Gen. (Rtd.) Yoweri @KagutaMuseveni, has in your leadership, experience, dedication and commitment to public service.

I sincerely thank H.E. the President for once again entrusting Hajji Yunus Kakande with this important responsibility. His retention reflects the value of continuity, institutional experience and effective coordination in advancing the Government's agenda.

Hajji Kakande, I wish you continued wisdom, good health and success as you carry on with your duties in service to our country.

May your renewed mandate inspire even greater commitment to accountability, efficiency and the effective implementation of Government programmes.

I also extend congratulations to all the Permanent Secretaries appointed by H.E. the President to serve across Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Your appointments reflect the trust and confidence that H.E. the President has placed in your respective abilities, professional experience and capacity to serve our country.

I wish all the retained and newly appointed Permanent Secretaries wisdom, courage and success as you take on these important national responsibilities.

Congratulations, and may God guide you in your service to Uganda!

For God and My Country!

I once again wish to caution members of the public against individuals who falsely claim to have the ability to secure Job appointments as Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), Resident City Commissioners (RCCs), Deputy RDCs, Deputy RCCs and Assistants in exchange for money.

Such individuals are fraudsters and conmen seeking to exploit innocent members of the public.

For avoidance of doubt, H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda is the constitutional appointing authority for Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), Deputies, and Assistants as provided for under Article 203 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. The appointment of RDCs is a constitutional prerogative vested in the President and is not a commercial transaction or an opportunity for individuals to solicit money.

Accordingly, no individual, intermediary or government official is authorised to demand or receive money from anyone under the pretext of influencing, recommending, facilitating or securing an appointment as an RDC, RCC, Deputy or Assistant.

I therefore urge members of the public to remain vigilant and avoid falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.

Anyone approached by an individual soliciting money in exchange for a job appointment, or anyone with information regarding ongoing extortion related to RDC appointments, is encouraged to report the matter to the Anti-Corruption Desk at the Office of the President through our toll-free line, 0800-320-320, for action.

Let us collectively fight corruption, extortion and fraud in public service recruitment, appointments and Service delivery.

For God and my country!

Today, together with women leaders from the Uganda Union, we held an SDA Women’s Conference at Buwekula SDA Church in Jinja City. The conference provided an opportunity to develop strategies to strengthen evangelism and spread the Word of God, while empowering women to actively participate in wealth creation and eradicate household poverty.

In my address, I conveyed warm greetings from H.E. the President of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. (Rtd.) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni; the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni; the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President, Hajji Yunus Kakande; and the entire staff of the Office of the President.

I also expressed my appreciation to everyone who stood with us during the send-off and burial of our dear friend, the late Hon. Olivia Kabaale Kwagala, who was laid to rest yesterday in Bugweri District.

In particular, I thanked Bishop Wakula and the Members of the 9th Parliament for their solidarity and support to the bereaved family during this difficult time.

I emphasised that, as SDA women leaders, we have a collective responsibility to advance the God's message through retreats, seminars, fellowship meetings and, other social engagements. Equally important is the need to translate our faith into practical action by working together to fight household poverty and improve the livelihoods of our families and communities.

I reminded the women that they are important pillars of family and community development. Therefore, they should not remain passive recipients of household resources but should actively participate in productive economic activities, engage in the money economy and contribute meaningfully to the financial well-being of their families.

We also discussed the importance of safeguarding our health, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS. I encouraged individuals living with HIV to seek and adhere to prescribed treatment, emphasising that an HIV diagnosis is not the end of life. With proper medical care, people living with HIV can lead healthy and productive lives.

I expressed concern about the continued threat of HIV, particularly among young people aged 14–20, and urged the youth to practise abstinence while encouraging adults to make responsible choices and use appropriate HIV prevention measures.

I further highlighted the commitment of H.E. the President to strengthening the national response to HIV/AIDS, with the ultimate goal of ending the epidemic in Uganda by 2030.

On wealth creation, I encouraged the women to embrace Government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, NUSAF, etc which provide opportunities for individuals and communities to improve their household incomes.

I also encouraged them to adopt the Four-Acre Model as a practical approach to agricultural production, household food security and sustainable wealth creation. Acre 1 for Coffee or Cocoa: Establishing long-term cash crops capable of generating sustainable household income; Acre 2 for Fruit Farming: Growing fruits such as oranges and mangoes to diversify income sources and create additional market opportunities; Acre 3– Food Production: Cultivating food crops such as maize, beans, cassava, sweet potatoes and vegetables to ensure household food security while generating surplus for sale; Acre 4 for Pasture Establishment: Developing pasture to support zero-grazing, dairy farming and other livestock enterprises.

I also urged them to complement the above projects with backyard projects like poultry keeping and vegetable growing.

I called upon SDA women to embrace both spiritual growth and economic empowerment, recognising that strong families and prosperous communities require faith, hard work, discipline and collective responsibility.

As women of faith, let us continue serving God, supporting our families and contributing to the transformation of our communities.

For God and My Country!

Today, I had the honour of representing the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Gen. (Rtd.) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, at the burial of the late Hon. Olivia Kabaale Kwagala, former Woman Member of Parliament for Iganga District, held at Nakivumbi in Bugweri District.

Hon. Kwagala, who passed away after battling cancer, was the beloved daughter of the late Mr. Kabaale John Amulam and Mrs. Florence Kabaale Nansubuga. Her death is a profound loss to her family, the people of Iganga District, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), and the country at large.

In his condolence message, H.E. the President @KagutaMuseveni expressed deep sorrow over her passing, describing her as a patriot whose life was characterised by distinguished service, humility and dedication to Uganda. He noted that the country lost a young leader who departed in the prime of her life, leaving behind a legacy that would inspire generations.

The President paid tribute to her contribution to national development, peace and stability, particularly her service to the people of Iganga District and her commitment as a hardworking NRM cadre and mobiliser.

He further urged Ugandans to honour her legacy by embracing wealth and job creation at the household level, taking advantage of the prevailing peace and improved infrastructure to invest in viable enterprises across commercial agriculture, services, industry and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

He encouraged the bereaved family to draw comfort from the meaningful and purposeful life she had lived and the contribution she had made to her community and country. He also saluted her for putting a brick (etofali) on Uganda's socio-economic transformation.

In my address, I commended H.E. the President for the financial support extended to Hon. Kwagala during her illness. I also conveyed the Government's commitment to strengthening cancer prevention, treatment and care services across the country, including the President's proposal to establish standard cancer treatment hospitals in every region to improve access to specialised medical services.

I appreciated the bereaved family, religious leaders, political leaders and all those who stood with Hon. Kwagala and her family throughout her illness and during the mourning period.

I delivered H.E. the President's condolence contribution of UGX 10 million, expressed my sympathy to the bereaved family and prayed that Almighty God grants them strength and comfort during this difficult time.

May the soul of the late Hon. Olivia Kabaale Kwagala rest in eternal peace.

For God and My Country!

I warmly congratulate Hon. Ruth Katushabe @KatushabeRuth82 upon the High Court in Masaka upholding her declaration as the duly elected District Woman Member of Parliament for Bukomansimbi.

This judicial decision reaffirms the importance of the rule of law, respect for democratic institutions, and adherence to due judicial process.

I wish Hon. Katushabe success as she continues to serve the people of Bukomansimbi with dedication, commitment, and integrity. May this victory mark a renewed chapter of effective representation, unity, and development for the people of Bukomansimbi.

Congratulations once again.