Kamuli, Uganda: The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, has dismissed viral social media claims alleging that she is critically ill or dead, describing the reports as false, sponsored and part of a growing business of online abuse.
Speaking at her home in Mbulamuti shortly after attending Christmas prayers at St Paul’s Church Mbulamuti on Thursday, Kadaga said she was in good health and warned against the reckless use of social media to spread misinformation.
“I am fine. I am alive. I have just come from church,” Kadaga said. “There are people who are paid to abuse others on social media. If they don’t do it, they are not paid. It has become a big business, and it is sponsored.”
Kadaga said she had taken time to rest after intense political activity but remained fully engaged in her duties and mobilisation work.
“I am resting, and it is not a big issue. I am busy doing my work. My voters are still there,” she said. “You saw how many votes I scored during the primaries. That was a college system; this time it is universal suffrage, and I expect a much bigger margin.”
The former Speaker of Parliament, who is contesting for Kamuli District Woman Member of Parliament, said she does not interfere with other aspirants or attack political opponents, insisting that democracy thrives on open competition.
“Let the population choose. Give people a chance to decide. If you close the door to competition and then claim to be democratic, that is hypocrisy,” Kadaga said, adding that voters would have the final say on polling day.
Her remarks follow widespread online speculation about her health, which aides say was triggered by campaign fatigue after spearheading mobilisation efforts for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the Busoga sub-region and other parts of the country.
Last week, her chief campaigner, Felix Isabirye, said Kadaga had taken health leave following the strenuous campaign trail. Earlier reports had falsely claimed she was airlifted to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi in critical condition.
Kadaga has served in Parliament continuously since 1989, making her one of Uganda’s longest-serving legislators with more than three decades in national politics.
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