Kadaga hits back at critics over her age

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First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has hit back at her detractors who argue that she is too old to continue with her political ambitions and should rest.

She said that people argue that she is too old to continue serving as the second National Vice Chairperson of the NRM’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), adding that age should not be weaponized against her political career.

“The issue of age is discriminatory because in our party, there are leaders who are older than me—so as they talk about age, they should also talk about those leaders,” Kadaga said.

Kadaga was speaking while meeting over 78 women leaders under Busoga Women’s forum that brings together the leaders of Women’s Leagues of the twelve districts of Busoga, which included Namayingo, Namutumba, Mayuge, Iganga, Jinja, Bugiri, Kaliro, Luuka, Bugweri, Buyende, Kamuli and Jinja City. 

Women leaders from Busoga Women's Forum endorsing Kadaga for the slot of 2nd National Vice Chairperson NRM while at Hannington Resort hotel in Mayuge district on Wednesday.

The meeting was held at Hannington Resort Hotel at Kyando village in Mayuge district on July 9th, 2025.

During the meeting, women leaders tabled their demands before Kadaga seeking intervention and solutions from the NRM party chairman and President of Uganda Gen (Rtd) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Florence Enyongu, the chairperson Women’s League Bugiri district, through Kadaga, requested President Yoweri Museveni to ask Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among to step aside for Kadaga for the slot of second National Vice chairperson on NRM’s CEC, saying Kadaga is still a big voice in Busoga and Uganda at large. 

Fazira Namiiro, the chairperson Women’s League in Jinja Northern division requested Kadaga to secure an appointment with President Yoweri Museveni so that he meets leaders from Busoga Women’s Forum and table their request directly to him and further requested for Motorcycles as means of transport during campaigns.

Monica Mukasa, the publicity Women League Kamuli district requested the top NRM structure to consider sending some funds to Women’s League chairpersons and their committees to enable them campaign for President Yoweri Museveni and other NRM flag bearers.

Salafina Namusobya, the chairperson of Women Council Jinja district notified Kadaga that women in Busoga have not benefited from the government’s GROW project, adding that banks first request for heavy security to access GROW funds.  

However, Kadaga responded that she noted their demands and promised to put them in writing and hand them over to President Yoweri Museveni during a Cabinet meeting.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga (middle) being cheered by some of her supporters from Busoga Women's Forum while at Hannington Resort hotel in Mayuge district on Wednesday.

Kadaga also outlined some of the projects she fought for which included lobbying for UWEP funds, construction of the Musita-Mayuge-Namayingo-Busia Road; elevation of Jinja to a City Status; elevation of Iganga and Bugiri to a Municipality status; supported in the creation of Busoga University and educating the girl child in Busoga and Uganda at large among others.

She explained the genesis of the seat of the second National Vice chairperson NRM (FEMALE) to the women leaders saying that it was requested for by the women members at one of the conferences in Namboole stadium in 2005—after realising that the leaders of the party were all men.

She said she was the first inaugural second National Vice chairperson and by that time she was not Speaker of Parliament adding that she became Speaker when she was already a CEC member. 

She said the office has nothing to do with the Speaker.

Women councils and women leagues endorsed Kadaga for Second National Vice Chairperson NRM (FEMALE) on NRM’s CEC.

Kadaga also announced that she will officially launch her campaign for the slot of Second National Vice Chairperson NRM (Female) at a public rally to be organised at Iganga district headquarter ground today July 10, 2025.