Headline: ‘I Forged the Papers for Her Appointment’: Kadaga Hits Back at Minister Babalanda
A bitter political dispute within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has erupted into public view, pitting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, against Minister for the Presidency, Milly Babalanda.
The fallout follows recent remarks by Babalanda accusing Kadaga of “pretending to be a big person in the NRM party” and frustrating her work at the Office of the President. Babalanda further claimed that Kadaga was selfish and did not have the interests of the Busoga sub-region at heart.
She specifically expressed disappointment that the veteran politician had met with newly elected opposition leaders from the sub-region—a move she described as a betrayal of the ruling party.
In a strongly worded response delivered at a press conference yesterday, Kadaga launched a blistering attack on Babalanda, questioning her academic qualifications and alleging that she personally intervened to secure Babalanda’s appointment as Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) years ago—despite the latter lacking the required credentials.
‘I Forged a Recommendation’
Kadaga recounted how she sought to promote women’s representation in leadership positions within Kamuli District.
“At the time, the qualifications to be an RDC or Deputy RDC required you to have an A’level certificate. A time came and I realised that all along I had been recommending men’s names to be appointed RDCs. I asked myself: why not send a lady’s name this time?” Kadaga recalled.
“I looked for some women in Kamuli who were educated, and many were not available. Then I landed on Babalanda, who had neither Senior Six nor Senior Four qualifications. I forged a recommendation and told people to touch up some papers and see that this Musoga woman becomes an RDC.”
Kadaga emphasized the irony of Babalanda’s recent attacks, given her role in launching the minister’s political career.
“That is how Babalanda came to be a deputy RDC; it was my efforts, forging a letter. How can she say that I am selfish? She has even admitted to the president and told him: ‘If it weren’t for Kadaga, you would not have seen me.'”
Competence Questioned
The Deputy Prime Minister also questioned Babalanda’s capacity to independently run her ministry, claiming that others perform the intellectual heavy lifting on her behalf.
“Even in her current office as a minister, all speeches are written for her; she reads them word for word. If you ask her a single question from the speech, she cannot respond. Her speeches and research are done by Farouk Kirunda. He is the one that runs that ministry.”
Kadaga concluded with a warning to her political rival: “I ask Milly Babalanda to settle down. The wars you are starting up, you will not manage.”
As of press time, Minister Babalanda had not issued a formal response to Kadaga’s allegations.
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