Kamuli, Uganda: Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Milly Babirye Babalanda, has been hailed by leaders and residents of Buyende District for her grassroots-driven development agenda during a thanksgiving ceremony held Thursday at Iringa Township Primary School in Budiope West Constituency.
The event, attended by political, religious, and cultural leaders, drew large crowds who praised the Minister’s “overwhelming support” to the constituency, citing her leadership as both transformative and unifying.
Buyende District Chairperson, Kanaku Michael, told the gathering that he had abandoned his parliamentary ambitions for Budiope West after being impressed by Babalanda’s leadership.
“I didn’t stand again as district chairperson hoping to run for Member of Parliament, but when the Minister came, I decided to leave the race. Her leadership is transformative, and she has the capacity to steer the constituency forward,” Kanaku said.
The Thanksgiving fete also doubled as a celebration of Babalanda’s emphatic victory in the NRM primaries of July 17, 2025, where she secured 99,832 votes, defeating her closest rival, Mutagaya Denis (12,940 votes) and incumbent MP Hon. Kyoto Ibrahim Muluri (9,995 votes). Other contenders included Mbazira Fred (548 votes), Tibatesa George William (660 votes), and Mukisa Edward (471 votes).
In her address, Minister Babalanda thanked residents for the overwhelming support and pledged to deliver tangible results. “This victory was not mine alone but a collective choice of the people of Budiope West. I am committed to serving with humility and delivering results,” she said.
Speakers at the event praised her reforms in the President’s Office, with Justine Mbabazi, Dean of RDCs and RCCs and RDC for Wakiso, noting that the Minister had championed teamwork, created dialogue platforms, and introduced Assistant RDCs to boost service delivery.
True to her pledge of community empowerment, Babalanda donated four brand-new motorcycles to local religious leaders, tents to parishes, and gadgets for talent promotion among the youth. Residents welcomed the donations as timely, describing her as a leader who listens and delivers.
The colorful celebration featured cultural dances, choirs, and prayers, with elders and opinion leaders expressing optimism that Babalanda’s tenure would fast-track development in health, education, infrastructure, and youth empowerment.
“With Minister Babalanda, we are not only celebrating a leader but a mother who listens and acts,” one elder remarked, as the thanksgiving ended on a high note of unity and renewed hope for Budiope West.
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