Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Kamuli District Woman MP, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, has taken a short health break following an intense campaign schedule, her aides have said, dismissing online claims that she is critically ill.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kamuli on Wednesday, Kadaga’s chief campaigner, Felix Isabirye, said the veteran politician is simply resting on medical advice after weeks of non-stop mobilisation.
“Mama Kadaga is on health leave due to campaign fatigue. Her doctors advised her to take bed rest and routine check-ups. Just as civil servants take leave, she too deserves time to rest,” Isabirye said.
Kadaga recently led President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign activities across the Busoga sub-region and later extended her mobilisation efforts to other parts of the country. According to her team, the demanding schedule took a toll, prompting doctors to recommend rest.
Isabirye dismissed social media reports claiming Kadaga was bedridden or in critical condition as false and defamatory, describing them as exaggerated propaganda meant to mislead the public.
He noted that despite her busy routine, Kadaga last week presided over the distribution of 50,000 chicks to farmers in Kamuli Township under a programme by the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB), shortly before going on leave.
The aide declined to reveal her current location, saying public disclosure could attract unnecessary interruptions and affect her recovery due to her high-profile status.
He also condemned what he called harmful propaganda, including doctored video clips, alarming messages and fake death reports allegedly linked to the Kyabazinga of Busoga.
“These claims are meant to paint her as too weak to support President Museveni’s campaign,” Isabirye said, adding that voters in Kamuli have already assured Kadaga of their support and encouraged her to rest.
Earlier this week, unverified reports on social media alleged that Kadaga had been airlifted to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi in a worrying condition—claims her camp strongly denied.
Kadaga, who has served in Parliament continuously since 1989, remains one of the most influential figures in Ugandan politics. She is seeking to retain her seat as Kamuli District Woman MP in the January 15, 2026 general elections, which will determine the country’s next president and parliament.
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