By The Eye Media Reporter | Budiope, June 18, 2025
There was jubilation in Budiope West as Hon. Minister Milly Babirye Babalanda, the Minister for the Presidency, was officially nominated to contest for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag for the Member of Parliament seat in the upcoming 2026 general elections.
The nomination, which took place at the NRM Secretariat in Kampala, was presided over by the NRM Electoral Commission Chairman, Dr. Tanga Odoi, who duly declared Minister Babalanda as a candidate. Accompanied by hundreds of enthusiastic supporters clad in yellow, Minister Babalanda arrived at the nomination center in a well-coordinated procession that reflected her growing popularity in the constituency. The moment she emerged to present her credentials, chants of “Mama Wa Budiope!” filled the air.
Speaking shortly after her nomination, Minister Babalanda thanked the people of Budiope West for their unwavering support and pledged to deliver transformative leadership rooted in the core values of the NRM—peace, unity, and service delivery.
“I am offering myself to serve the people of Budiope West because I believe we can achieve more when we work together. The NRM government under President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has laid the foundation, and it is now our role to build upon it for the betterment of our communities,” she said to thunderous applause.
Minister Babalanda, known for her humility and strong work ethic, has been instrumental in implementing presidential initiatives and ensuring effective service delivery across the country. No wonder during her thanksgiving ceremony held at Iringa Primary School on June 7, 2025, President Museveni showered her with praises, describing her as a loyal cadre and a committed servant of the people.
Her entry into the Budiope West race is widely seen as a game-changer, with political analysts already predicting a landslide victory given her national stature and grassroots appeal.
Local NRM leaders who spoke at the event described her candidature as a “blessing” and hailed her as a leader who has always prioritized people over politics.
“Hon. Babalanda is not just a minister in Kampala—she is one of us. She understands our struggles, and she has the network and commitment to deliver real results,” said one elder.
With her nomination now sealed, the political temperature in Budiope West is expected to rise as other aspirants prepare to battle it out. But if today’s happiness in Budiope is anything to go by, Hon. Milly Babirye Babalanda’s path to Parliament could be all but guaranteed.
