BUYENDE, UGANDA — Minister for the Presidency and Budiope West Member of Parliament Milly Babirye Babalanda has thanked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for giving her opportunities to serve in government, saying his confidence in her transformed her life and enabled her to pursue public service.
Babalanda made the remarks on Wednesday, September 23, during a thanksgiving ceremony held at Iringa Township Primary School in Nkondo Sub County, Buyende District, where President Museveni was the chief guest.
The ceremony was organised to thank God for Babalanda’s life, protection and opportunity to serve the people of Budiope West and the country.
Babalanda said she was particularly grateful for Museveni’s decision to attend the ceremony, describing his presence as a significant honour to her family and constituents.
“Your Excellency, you lifted me from humble beginnings, nurtured me, mentored me and patiently gave me opportunities to learn, grow and serve our country,” Babalanda said.
She added that Museveni’s decision to entrust her with responsibilities in government had turned what others might have overlooked into an opportunity for national service.
Babalanda said she was humbled by the President’s continued confidence in her, particularly after being given a second opportunity to serve as Minister for the Presidency.
She pledged to repay the trust through loyalty, integrity, hard work and service to the public.
The minister also used the occasion to wish Museveni a belated happy birthday and prayed for his continued good health, wisdom and long life.
She also paid tribute to First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni, thanking her for her service to the country and for the guidance and support she has offered her family and the nation.
Babalanda further appreciated the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President, Hajji Yunus Kakande, for his cooperation and support in the execution of government responsibilities.
Babalanda said her efforts as an elected leader have focused on improving access to education, water, health services, roads and agricultural opportunities in Budiope West.
She said she had worked with government institutions to lobby for development programmes and ensure that public resources reach intended beneficiaries.
Among the interventions she cited were 20,000 hoes, school desks and sanitation facilities, maize and additional agricultural inputs, poultry and dairy support, boreholes, community roads, an ambulance, health referrals, tents, solar lighting, construction materials and coffee seedlings.
She said the interventions had benefited communities in different parts of the country, with sustained attention given to Budiope West.
Babalanda also thanked the President, Cabinet and Parliament for supporting the construction of the Ambercoat-Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Bukungu Road and 10 kilometres of road works in Jinja City.
She said the projects would improve connectivity and access to markets and services for communities in the region.
The minister also welcomed the irrigation system provided to the community, saying it would help farmers reduce their dependence on unreliable rainfall.
She said irrigation could support year-round production, improve food security and household incomes, and create opportunities for agro-processing and employment, particularly among women and young people.
Babalanda asked the government to extend irrigation infrastructure to other parts of Buyende District to enable more farmers to engage in year-round production.
She also called for the establishment of a technical institute in Buyende to equip young people with practical and marketable skills.
Babalanda urged residents to take advantage of government programmes intended to move households from subsistence production into the money economy.
She cited the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, Operation Wealth Creation, the Four Acre Model, the Youth Livelihood Programme and the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme.
She encouraged beneficiaries to seek accurate information from responsible government officials, fulfil programme requirements and use funds and inputs for their intended purposes.
She also urged residents to report cases of extortion and misuse of government resources.
For households with limited land, Babalanda encouraged farmers to adapt the Four Acre Model to their circumstances by combining high-value crops, fruits, pasture, dairy production and food crops with enterprises such as poultry, piggery and fish farming.
She acknowledged that Budiope West still faces challenges involving roads, clean water, healthcare, education, youth unemployment, markets and household incomes.
She pledged to strengthen follow-up on government programmes, promote transparent beneficiary selection and improve communication and feedback between leaders and residents.
Re-echoing Museveni’s call for “no more sleep” and “no more corruption”, Babalanda urged leaders and technical officers to act with urgency and ensure that government programmes produce measurable results.
She also called on residents to protect public facilities, maintain peace and participate in economic activities.
As a gesture of appreciation, Babalanda presented President Museveni with two cows during the ceremony.
After the President’s departure, she donated eight new motorcycles to religious leaders in Budiope West. Four motorcycles went to Seventh-day Adventist pastors and four to Born Again pastors to facilitate their movement as they carry out their religious work.
She also distributed hand-operated tractors to eight groups representing the eight sub-counties in Budiope West to support agricultural production.
In addition, 200 mattresses were distributed to elderly men and women in the constituency.
The thanksgiving ceremony attracted religious, political and community leaders, government officials, Members of Parliament, security personnel and thousands of residents from Buyende and the wider Busoga sub-region.
Babalanda thanked the organisers, government officials, religious leaders, political leaders, security agencies, volunteers and other partners who contributed to the event.
She also expressed gratitude to the people of Budiope West for their continued support, prayers and confidence.
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