The Minister for Presidency- designate, Milly Babirye Babalanda will miss today’s swearing-in ceremony at Kololo Independence Grounds because of her recent contact with a COVID-19 patient. Babalanda is among 81 newly appointed Ministers and have since been approved by the Appointments Committee of parliament.
“This is to inform the General Public that the Minister-in-charge of the Presidency; Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda is under quarantine having been in contact with a COVID-19 Patient. Accordingly, she will be in isolation for some period as advised by the doctors,” reads a statement by Faruk Kirunda, the Deputy Press Secretary in the Office of the President.
Kirunda says that the new Minister cannot take the oath of office scheduled for today. He however notes that the Minister’s condition is not worrying. She will take the oath after the quarantine period. Babalanda replaced Esther Mbayo, the Luuka Woman Member of Parliament.
The Appointments Committee chaired by Deputy Speaker Anita Among approved her appointment after Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) and the office of the President clarified inconsistencies in her academic documents.
Dr. Kenneth Omona, the Principal Private Secretary in the office of the President in his letter to the clerk of Parliament, said there had been a mix up of names in the list appointee submitted for approval.
“This is to clarify that the correct names are Mrs, Babirye Milly Babalanda and not Mariam Doka Babalanda. I, therefore, confirm that His Excellency appointed Babirye Milly Babalanda as a minister in charge of the Presidency,” read part of the letter.
The Appointments Committee had also noted a mismatch in Babalanda’s academic document where her Uganda Certificate of Examination-UCE had eight instead of 10 subjects. However, UNEB indicated that on Adult Entry, it is optional to take physics and chemistry and that Babalanda chose not to take the two subjects.
The Examination body also confirmed that Babalanda sat her Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education- UACE in 2019 at Makerere Day and Evening Adult School.
