Following the unsuccessful vetting of designate Minister for the Presidency Milly Babirye Babalanda, Uganda National Examinations Board [UNEB] and State House have both written to Parliament with answers to the queries raised against her appointment by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Monday.
The session which was chaired by Deputy Speaker Anita Among differed Babalanda’s clearance on grounds of inconsistencies in her academic documents and names.
According to the committee , the fact that Babalanda sat for eight and not ten subjects as per the general regulations of the examinations body was a call for concern.
Also queried was that whereas President Yoweri Museveni named the appointee as ” Mariam Doka Babalanda, her other documents like National ID reads ” Babirye Milly Babalanda.
Among thus, Parliament sought for clarification from both UNEB and President Museveni regarding the matter.
In the letter from State House also seen by this news publication, President Museveni, through his Principal Private Secretary Dr. Kenneth Omana clarified that the person he appointed is indeed “Milly Babirye Babalanda” and not “Mariam Doka Babalanda” as spelt earlier.
” This is to confirm that the correct name is Mrs. Babirye Milly Babalanda and not Mariam Doka Babalanda.
I therefore confirm that His Excellence the President appointed Mrs. Babirye Milly Babalanda as Minister in charge of the Presidency.” Reads Omona’s letter in part.
Similarly, UNEB has explained to Parliament that the adult education program under which the appointee sat her Uganda Certificate of Education [UCE] exams doesn’t make Physics and Chemistry mandatory. As such, UNEB says in its letter to Parliament dated June 15. 2021 that Babalanda’s certificates are authentically issued by the body.
“This is to confirm that Babirye Milly Babalanda sat for UCE in 2017 at Makerere Day and Evening Adult School under index number U1550/033 and qualified for the award of UCE certificate,” UNEB stated.
” The center is for purely private candidates who are not compelled to offer sciences. The candidate sat for 8 subjects which is within the regulations,” UNEB explained further.
The committee will convene again today to reassess the documents presented to them from the two bodies to conclude the vetting.
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