Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, has dismissed social media claims that she is critically ill, describing the reports as false and sponsored.
Kadaga made the clarification during a press conference at her residence in Kamuli District after attending Christmas Mass at St Paul’s Church in Mbulamuti. She assured the public that she is healthy and urged people to stop spreading false information online.
“I am fine. I am alive. I have just come from church,” she said, adding that she is currently resting after a period of intense political activity but remains active in her work and political mobilisation.
“Why are they following my health? I’m also a human being who needs to rest at home. I am resting, and it is not a big issue. I am busy doing my work. My voters are still there. You saw how many votes I scored during the primaries. That was a college system; this time it is universal suffrage, and I expect a much bigger margin,” Kadaga explained.
She described the rumours as part of a sponsored online abuse campaign. “There are people who are paid to abuse others on social media, and if they don’t do it, they are not paid. This has become a big business and it is sponsored,” she said.
Kadaga emphasized that she does not interfere with other aspirants or attack her opponents, highlighting the importance of open democratic competition. “Give people a chance to decide. If you close the door to competition and then claim to be democratic, that is hypocrisy. Let the population choose. Voters will choose on polling day,” she said.
She also noted that she has forgiven anyone who has been attacking her online.
Her statement comes amid widespread speculation about her health, which aides say followed her recent nationwide mobilisation activities in support of President Museveni.
