Thousands of jubilant residents in Budiope West constituency turned up to celebrate the victory of the Minister for Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, following her landslide win in the recent NRM primary elections.
Minister Babalanda, who garnered 99,832 votes representing 80.2 percent of the total cast, emerged as the NRM flag bearer after her competitors’ petitions were dismissed by the tribunal for lack of merit.
Addressing her supporters at a thanksgiving celebration organized to mark her victory, the minister expressed heartfelt gratitude to the people of Budiope West for their overwhelming support and for standing firm behind her candidacy.
She said the thanksgiving was not only a moment to celebrate her win but also a time to acknowledge God’s hand in the process and to renew her pledge to serve her constituents diligently.
During the event, the minister also launched her manifesto, which she said is designed to transform the lives of the people of Budiope West by improving service delivery across all sectors.
Minister Babalanda urged residents of Buyende District to work together in the fight against poverty, emphasizing the importance of applying practical strategies of wealth creation as often guided by President Museveni through his message of “ekibalo.”
As a gesture of support to the community and to strengthen religious outreach, the minister donated four motorcycles to leaders under the Anglican Church.
She noted that this was in addition to the four motorcycles she had previously given to Muslim leaders and another four to Catholic leaders to ease their mobility as they spread the word of God and work to reduce crime in the community.
She further donated six tents to Kidera Town Council, Kidera Sub-county, and Buyanja Sub-county, saying the contribution would help facilitate social gatherings and community events.
In her speech, Minister Babalanda appealed to the people of Budiope to remain loyal to the NRM party and vote for its candidates in the upcoming elections in order to “strengthen the chain of development and protect the gains of NRM.”
The Principal Secretary in the Office of the President, Hajji Yunus Kakande, who graced the thanksgiving ceremony, commended the minister for her transformational leadership in Buyende District.
“I have known this area since 1988 but we need to have leaders like Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda to protect the NRM’s achievements and also help the government to transform the area,” he remarked.
Hajji Kakande further noted that Babalanda’s initiatives were already yielding visible results. “Ever since Hon. Minister Babalanda expressed interest to represent the people of Budiope West, she has done a lot to transform the area and it is just the beginning,” he added.
The LCV Chairperson of Buyende District, Micheal Kanaku, also praised the minister for her developmental efforts, pointing to tangible contributions she has made in the region.
“I want to thank you for taking the lead to transform Budiope West. I have seen you fixing roads, giving out chicken to the locals, supporting schools in construction and furniture. It has never happened in Budiope West and we are seeing it for the first time,” Kanaku said.
He urged residents to rally behind Minister Babalanda and ensure her election to Parliament, noting that she represents renewed hope for the Busoga region at a time when other leaders are aging.
The thanksgiving celebration was also attended by several dignitaries including the Minister of State for Youth and Children’s Affairs, Hon. Balamu Barugahara, the Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, Hon. Diana Mutasingwa, Commissioner of RDCs for Eastern Uganda and Dean of RDCs, Mbabazi Justine, as well as RDCs, local leaders, and other special guests.
