The Minister for Energy and Minister Development, Ruth Nankabirwa has said she is happy she is now transitioning into serving God, away from politics.
Nankabirwa recently said she will not be seeking return in the 2026 general election.
She in 2021 lost the Kiboga Woman MP seat to National Unity Platform’s Christine Kaaya Nakimwero but it was thought the Energy Minister would in 2026 try her luck again.
Speaking on Saturday during her thanksgiving ceremony at her country home in Ndejje, Luwero District, Nankabirwa, who was in the company of her husband Mr. Fred Ssegujja, said she welcomed the news of her appointment as Canon in the Church of Uganda with open arms.
The title of Canon is the highest honour conferred upon a lay Christian in the church of Uganda for their previous commitment to serving the faith.
“I’m ready to serve God with the help of my husband Mr. Ssegujja. I know the President is part of the reason why I was called to serve due to the responsibilities that he has been giving me all this while right from school,” she said.
“I thank you, Your Excellency, for gracing our function. I want to thank you for the responsibilities you always entrust us with ever since I joined you. I don’t think that I have disappointed you. I’m so proud of you.”
The Minister also reiterated that she will not stand again in elective politics, saying that she decided to dedicate her rest of the time to serve God and the government, for the development of Uganda.
President Museveni congratulated Nankabirwa for being consecrated as a Canon .
The 15th Kampala Diocesan Synod Meeting held at the Cathedral on Thursday, June 13, 2024, chaired by Archbishop Dr Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, announced Hon. Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa as Canon in charge of Public Relations.
“I’m happy to be here on the invitation of our daughter Ruth Nankabirwa. In the 1950s, we had only one Canon in the whole of Ankore, Canon Rudingwire, the father of the late Rwenziba. I thought it was unreachable. Now I’m happy now that we have a number of canons, the mother of Mrs. Kabonero, Jacqueline Mbabazi, and others. I congratulate you. And because of that, on this occasion I will give you five Friesian cows. Congratulations to the Ssegujjas,” Museveni observed, describing Nankabirwa as a good example to those she leads and her community.
He also commended her for being supportive and a strong cadre of the NRM who has been spreading the party’s message for some good years.
“Sometime later I came to learn that she was a real disciple of the NRM line with her family, as you saw what she has done here. She has 8 acres of mangoes here and a forest, but for me, I’m more interested in the mangoes, coffee, the diary, and those seven activities. I had never come here, but she told me that they had implemented part of our message, and I want to thank her for that,” he said upon information by Nankabirwa that in a good season they harvest up to Shhs 60 million from an acre comprising 400 mango trees.
According to President Museveni, Nankabirwa has been instrumental in fostering politics of interests, especially through discouraging the bad politics of ethnicity and religion, which led to the collapse of governments in the 1960s, and since then, the NRM government has been advising people to separate culture from politics.
“That’s why we restored the kingdoms—to promote the language and culture without getting involved in politics because the politics belong to the ordinary people. We had these arguments in the Constituent Assembly democratically, and people like Nankabirwa were supporting decentralisation to enable the cultural leaders to concentrate on language and culture, which we restored. Therefore, Nankabirwa has been part of that army that has been fighting for unity of Uganda, East Africa, and Africa,” the president stated, adding that as a wealth creator who produces milk, beef, and bananas, this helps him access markets, which he doesn’t get from fellow people in Ankore who have the same products as him.
He also appreciated the LC1 Chairperson of Ndejje, Mr. Mulindwa Charles Bemba for bringing out the importance of homestead incomes and the problem of mis-budgeting by leaders.
He gifted him a brand-new motorcycle.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa praised Nankabirwa for being a good friend.
“When you appointed me the Government Chief Whip, the first person to congratulate me was my sister Ruth Nankabirwa and she was the first person to take me for lunch but above all Mr. President, she offered mentorship to me for one week on how to run the Office of the Government Chief Whip,” he said.
Tayebwa also thanked President Museveni for not forgetting his cadres.
“The president has always reminded us that in the NRM house, there’s enough space for the NRM loyal cadres. The reappointment of Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa confirmed that message and now Ruth has set a very good example for us by showing that the moment you are loyal to NRM it will never forget you.”
Mr. Ssegujja, also welcomed President Museveni to their home and thanked him for the prevailing peace in the country.
The Archbishop-Church of Uganda, Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu thanked President Museveni for always supporting the activities of the Church of Uganda.
He also thanked Nankabirwa for her contribution to the Church of Uganda, including her immediate duty of representing the Church in the cabinet of Uganda to enhance cooperation between the church and the state, a role he says has been done with distinction.
The ceremony was attended by people from all walks of life, including the third Deputy Prime Minister, Rukia Isanga Nakadama, senior cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament from Uganda, and those of the East African Legislative Assembly.
Others were former Vice Presidents; Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi and Dr. Specioza Wandira Kazibwe; former Prime Minister, John Patrick Amama Mbabazi; former Minister of Foreign Affairs’, Sam Kuteesa; and religious leaders from all denominations and delegations from Kiboga and Luwero districts.
