Africa-Press – Uganda. The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, has firmly dismissed allegations that she is abandoning the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), insisting that she remains loyal to the party where she has belonged since its inception.
Kadaga’s emphatic declaration in Jinja came after weeks of speculation about her political future, with her supporters decrying a witch-hunt and opposition leaders joining Busoga residents to celebrate her resilience.
Speaking to a mammoth crowd at Jinja Agricultural Showgrounds during her grand homecoming on Sunday, Kadaga reaffirmed her allegiance to the NRM despite recent political setbacks.
“I want to assure you that I am still NRM and nobody shall push me out of NRM,” she declared to loud cheers from her supporters.
Kadaga’s statement comes in the wake of her recent defeat in the race for NRM’s Second National Vice Chairperson seat at Kololo, where she lost to Speaker of Parliament Anita Among.
The loss followed her earlier removal from the position of Speaker of Parliament in 2021—events that many of her supporters in Busoga have interpreted as political witch-hunts.
“They first stripped her of the Speakership of Parliament, and now the same forces have followed her to block her from the Central Executive Committee. This is total witch-hunt, but we as people of Busoga love her and support her,” said Habib Bumba, one of the jubilant supporters at the rally.
Despite these challenges, Kadaga’s homecoming turned into a show of force and unity, drawing thousands of supporters who lined the streets of Jinja City before accompanying her convoy to Kamuli, where another celebration was organized in her honor.
The event became a uniting factor for politicians across the political spectrum. Leaders from the NRM were joined by representatives from the opposition, including the National Unity Platform (NUP), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), and the People’s Front for Freedom.
Andrew Kaluuya, the NUP Regional Coordinator for Eastern Uganda and former Member of Parliament, led a delegation of opposition politicians who said they attended to pay tribute to Kadaga’s contribution to the region.
Kadaga’s resilience in the face of political challenges has elevated her status among Busoga residents, many of whom see her as a fearless defender of the region’s interests.
Her declaration of continued loyalty to the NRM appeared aimed at quelling speculation about her political future while simultaneously cementing her influence as a power broker in Busoga and national politics.
For her supporters, the message was clear: Kadaga may have been sidelined in party politics, but she remains a formidable force whose popularity continues to transcend party lines.
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
