Open Letter to Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga From Waiswa Isabirye, Busoga Diaspora

Mama wa Busoga, where did we go wrong?

Dear Rt. Hon. Kadaga,

With deep respect and a sense of patriotic duty, I write to you not just as a son of Busoga, but as a concerned member of the Ugandan diaspora who can no longer remain silent while watching our homeland sink deeper into poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment—despite nearly four decades of your presence and leadership at the highest levels of Uganda’s government.

Mama Kadaga, no one from Busoga has held power longer than you. You have been an MP since the NRC days, a key figure in the Constituent Assembly, Deputy Speaker, Speaker of Parliament, and now the 1st Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs. In all these capacities, you have had access, influence, and the opportunity to uplift your people, your district of Kamuli, and the region of Busoga at large. And yet, the hard truth is that Busoga remains among the most impoverished and stagnant regions in Uganda.

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) 2021 Poverty Report, Busoga—specifically the Busoga sub-region—has one of the highest poverty rates in Uganda, standing at over 29%, well above the national average of 20.3%. Youth unemployment in the region is catastrophic, with over 65% of youth between 18–30 years either unemployed or underemployed. The average household income in Busoga is lower than in any other sub-region in Eastern Uganda. This is not politics, Madam; this is data.

In the most recent UBOS Health Sector Performance Report, Kamuli District ranks among the bottom 20 districts in maternal health outcomes, with high teenage pregnancy and maternal mortality rates. Despite your decades in power, Kamuli has no national referral hospital, no major polytechnic institute, and no major government industrial investment to speak of. Why? How can a district led by such a high-ranking government official remain in such a dire state?

In the education sector, Kamuli—your own home constituency—has no government-built, top-tier secondary school or technical institute of national recognition. Students continue to drop out due to poor facilities, long distances, and low motivation. The few who make it to higher education do so with no structured support system from local leadership. Compare this to regions like Ankole or Teso, where coordinated leadership and unity have attracted national and international investments in both education and health infrastructure.

What is most painful to observe, Mama, is the deep political fragmentation and infighting that characterizes Busoga, a situation you have unfortunately contributed to. You have fallen out with nearly every leader of consequence in Busoga—Rt. Hon. Kirunda Kivejinja (RIP), Hon. Daudi Migereko, Hon. Balyeku, H.E. Specioza Kazibwe, the late Kyabazinga Henry Wako Muloki, and even the current Busoga Kingdom administration. To many of us watching from abroad, your political strategy seems rooted in exclusion, rivalry, and domination rather than consensus-building and inclusive development.

How can a region thrive when its top leaders spend more time fighting fellow Basoga than advocating for strategic transformation? How can investors feel safe when our internal politics are mired in ego and sabotage?

You have often positioned yourself as “Mama wa Busoga,” yet there is very little maternal nurture in the current state of our region. Most young people in Busoga today feel politically orphaned. They look around and see no industries, no internships, no jobs, no voice. They hear of your name and office, but cannot point to a single policy initiative that has directly improved their lives.

Mama, if Busoga were a private company and you its CEO for 40 years, would the shareholders not be justified in asking tough questions? Would they not demand accountability?

The diaspora has watched as you resort to playing the tribal and sectarian card when politically cornered—blaming everyone else for the stagnation that is unfolding under your watch. This behavior is unworthy of the high office you hold. We expect grace, unity, and transformational leadership—not threats, victimhood, and division.

We implore you to take this message in the spirit of constructive criticism. The Busoga region desperately needs a reorientation—a break from egoistic politics, a departure from vendettas, and a bold shift towards development, cooperation, and investment in youth. The President cannot do it alone. The NRM cannot do it alone. And we in the diaspora are ready to help—but only if there is accountability, humility, and a genuine desire for change.

Let this letter be a turning point. Reflect not only on the power you hold, but on the legacy you are leaving behind. The statistics speak for themselves, and history will judge not by the titles we carry, but by the lives we change.

With all due respect and urgency,

Waiswa Isabirye Ugandan Diaspora – London Son of Busoga, Voice for the Voiceless

Email: waiswa.isabirye@protonmail.com