After years of the public questioning the credibility of her academic credentials, the minister for presidency Milly Babirye Babalanda has finally come clean.
The Kamuli-born long term National Resistance Movement (NRM) mobilizer has graduated from Bugema University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration.
To celebrate this achievement, the minister hosted guests at Hotel Africana in Kampala. The party was attended by family, friends and politicians.
Born on December 5, 1970 in Nalinaibi village in Nawantumbi parish, Nawanyago sub county, Buzaaya county, in Kamuli district, as Milly Babirye, Babalanda has been a loyal servant of the NRM and President Yoweri Museveni.
Her appointment as minister was looked at by many political pundit as a reward for dedicated service to the party and Museveni, the party’s national chairman.
However, the catch, which almost failed her from entering the ministerial office, was her insufficient education.
Babalanda’s approval as minister in 2021 was temporarily stopped by the Appointments Committee of Parliament due to inconsistencies in her academic documents and names. She was later cleared.
According to reports then, the name sent by President Museveni for approval was Mariam Doka Babalanda , but her academic documents presented before the committee chaired by the deputy Speaker read Milly Babirye Babalanda.
Uganda National Examinations Board and the president’s secretary corrected the glitch.
Sources indicate that Babalanda sat for her Primary Seven in 1985 and completed her O’level at Busoga High School in Kamuli in 1989 but horribly failed as Milly Babirye.
However, because of growing political interest and influence, she was intrigued to return to school to put her education credentials in order and qualify for government offices.
And indeed, in 2017, 27 years after the 1989 failing, Babalanda resat O’level on mature age. It was at this point that she adopted the Babalanda name – her husband’s name.
In 2019, she sat for her A’level. And now, she is a proud degree owner.
