Presidency Minister Milly Babirye Babalanda is, arguably, one of the most powerful and influential members of President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s cabinet.
Formerly a presidential assistant and senior presidential advisor on political affairs, Babalanda was one of candidate Museveni’s lead campaigners.
For years, she was the administrator and coordinator of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Office of the National Chairman (ONC) based at Kyambogo.
In June 2021, in what some saw as a reward to a loyal and hardworking campaigner, Museveni dropped Luuka District Woman MP Esther Mbayo with Babalanda.
Babalanda now holds what is, perhaps, the most influential office in cabinet, given its closeness to the presidency, and the number of offices the minister supervises.
The new presidency minister will now supervise seven ministers, including a deputy prime minister, spread across six ministries. These are: Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi (Security), Misi Kabanda (Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs), Minister without Portfolio (Lukia Nakadama), Rose Akello (Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity), Kabuye Kyofatogabye (State, Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs), Diana Mutasingwa Nankunda (Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President), and Peter Ogwang (Minister of State for Economic Monitoring).
In addition, Babalanda supervises all the presidential advisors and Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and their deputies.
As she assumed office last week, Babalanda demanded weekly reports from all ministers under her charge, and issued tough orders for RDCs.
