By Nelly Otto
Jinja
All roads will lead to Kamuli district on Friday 19th September,2025 as supporters and fans of Uganda’s First deputy Prime Minister and East African Community (EAC) Affairs Minister Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga prepare to give her a heroine welcome.
The grand reception dubbed ‘homecoming’ is a celebration of her decades-long dedication and service to the people of Busoga, despite her recent loss to Rt Hon Annette Anita Among the current speaker in the NRM National Vice chairperson Female elections.
According to Peter Kisambira, the chairperson of the Steering Committee, the homecoming is not just a welcome party but also a thanksgiving ceremony.
“…the Basoga will thank God for all the success stories Mama Kadaga has registered in the region and country as a whole having occupied key strategic positions for many years…”, Kisambira remarks.
Kisambira who doubles as the Manager Source of The Nile Agriculture and Trade Show Grounds uses a fitting analogy of a skilled hunter to describe the sentiment behind the welcome.
“…In Busoga, Uganda or Africa when one goes hunting and comes back with or without a catch but alive, their people will always welcome them back with celebrations because, after all, they always carried a big catch in the past for many years…”, he said.
He says Kadaga will be warmly received by supporters at the New Nile Bridge and ushered to Busoga Square in Jinja City where she will deliver a brief address to supporters before proceeding to Kamuli for the main event.
Commentators say this sentiment reflects the appreciation and gratitude that Kadaga’s supporters have for her years of service and dedication to the region and Uganda as a whole.
With a population of 4.5 million people, according to the 2024 Population and Housing Census, Busoga remains a significant stronghold for Kadaga who is affectionately known as the ‘Mother of Busoga’or simply Mama Busoga.
Kisambira who is a clan brother to Mama Kadaga (Abaise Igaga clan) emphasizes that Mama Kadaga’s influence in the region remains unwavering, despite wrong sentiments by some detractors following her recent ejection from CEC.
“…Mama Kadaga will always remain the Mother of Busoga, whether some people now mistakenly think she is no longer having any political clout…”, he said drawing on his fondness for Kisoga’s rich proverbs and wise sayings.
Peter Kisambira also revealed that President Yoweri Museveni has been invited to grace the event, which aims to celebrate Kadaga’s contributions to the region.
He allayed fears that Kadaga has already fallen out with President Museveni following their recent open verbal confrontation during the televised NRM delegates conference at Kololo Independence Ceremonial Grounds, saying the two leaders have interests of Uganda and East Africa at heart and are always working beyond individual interests.
Kadaga’s loss and eventual silence have sparked discussions about the political direction of Busoga.
Some analysts believe that her defeat could lead to a shift in the region’s political dynamics, potentially creating opportunities for new leaders or even opposition parties like NUP to gain traction.
Others see the homecoming as a chance for Kadaga to regroup and potentially reassert her influence in the region.
Following Kadaga’s ouster from CEC, former Minister hon Isaac Isanga Musumba celebrated, sparking debates from a cross section of the population in the region.
Hon Musumba claims that while speaker and CEC member, Kadaga focused more on internal conflicts rather than party mobilization which contributed to President Museveni’s poor performance in Busoga during the 2021 general elections.
He has pledged to intensify NRM campaigns in the region which had been the party’s bedrock since the struggles to oust Iddi Amin Dada who captured power in a military coup in 1971 and led Uganda until 11th April,1979.
However, Musumba’s remarks were met with ridicule on social media with many labelling him an opportunist.
Critics pointed out the inconsistency in Musumba’s words and actions, particularly regarding his wife Hon Proscovia Night Salaam Musumba who recently defected from the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to the People’s Front For Freedom (PFF).
This has led to questions about Hon Musumba’s ability to lead by example with many urging him to first clean his house before criticizing others or even pretending to champion NRM campaigns.
Political analysts and strategists are closely following the homecoming event to understand how it will impact President Museveni and the NRM party.
They will be watching to see whether the gathering will be used as a platform for negative sentiments or it will serve as an opportunity to regroup and reassert her influence in Busoga.
The outcome of this event could have significant implications for the political dynamics in Busoga where some candidates who campaigned against Kadaga are already having difficult times with the ordinary residents.
