The First Deputy Prime Minister and Kamuli District Woman legislator , Rebecca Kadaga, is resting after a strenuous presidential campaign tour and is not bedridden, her aide said Wednesday, dismissing circulating rumours as false and defamatory.
Kadaga, one of Uganda’s longest-serving legislators with more than three decades in Parliament, recently led the Busoga sub-region campaign trail for veteran President Museveni and continued mobilisation activities across other regions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kamuli, her chief campaigner, Felix Isabirye, described the social media claims of her being in critical condition as “exaggerated propaganda” and an infringement on her privacy.
“Mama Kadaga is on health leave due to campaign fatigue. Her medical team advised her to take bed rest and undergo routine check-ups. Just as God rested on the Sabbath, and civil servants take leave, she too deserves time to rest,” Isabirye said on Wednesday.
He emphasised that, despite being a workaholic, Kadaga last week presided over the distribution of 50,000 chicks by the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) to farmers in Kamuli Township before going on leave.
Isabirye declined to disclose her exact location, citing concerns that public disclosure would invite interruptions and disrupt her recovery given her high-profile status.
He warned against what he called “harmful propaganda and inhumane pressure” targeting Kadaga through artificial intelligence-generated video clips, sensational messages, and false death announcements allegedly attributed to the Kyabazinga (king) of Busoga.
“These falsehoods are being cooked up to portray her as too weak to effectively support President Museveni’s campaign,” Isabirye said, adding: “As for her own race, voters have already assured her of their support and even asked her not to over-exert herself.”
Earlier this week, a section of social media platforms claimed Kadaga had been airlifted to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi in a worrying condition, reports that Isabirye categorically denied.
Kadaga, who has served in Parliament continuously since 1989, remains a central figure in Ugandan politics, balancing her legislative duties with active participation in national campaigns.
Kadaga is seeking to retain her seat as Kamuli District Woman MP in Uganda’s General Election on January 15, 2026, which will decide the next parliament and president.