The national headquarters of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) in Naguru was on Wednesday turned into a political and civic convergence point as Speaker Jacob Oboth-Oboth presided over the official handover of the Office of the Secretary General.
The ceremony marked the formal transition from founding Secretary General David Kabanda to Tingey County MP Fadil Twalla, drawing cabinet ministers, legislators, religious leaders and political mobilisers.
Bardege-Layibi Division MP Hon. Ojara Mapenduzi, speaking on behalf of the organising committee, welcomed dignitaries and introduced an 11-member team tasked with coordinating the function, thanking PLU leadership and its top patrons for guidance.
Although Kabanda was absent, his valedictory remarks were delivered by Igara East MP Hon. Michael Mawanda, who highlighted his three-year tenure and the challenges of establishing a national secretariat from scratch.
Legal oversight of the transition was provided by city lawyer Edwin Karugire, who facilitated the formal transfer of institutional instruments, including the constitution, official seals, flags and an operational report outlining the secretariat’s milestones and assets.
The ceremony also featured an interfaith blessing, where religious leaders presented Hon. Twalla with a Holy Qur’an and offered prayers for wisdom, unity and responsible leadership.
Representatives of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) praised PLU for its continued alignment with government mobilisation efforts, describing it as a complementary civic structure.
Outgoing Vice Chairman Michael Nuwagira Kaguta (Toyota) urged continuity and stronger performance, saying the organisation must build on its previous achievements while improving delivery.
“This new office is going to perform miracles this time. We are going to see PLU on a completely different level,” he said.
In his remarks, Speaker Oboth Oboth commended the transition as a sign of organisational maturity, while cautioning against internal divisions and urging focus on national development priorities.
He reiterated the need for collective responsibility in fighting corruption, stressing that governance failures must be addressed at all levels of leadership.
Corruption, he said, remains one of the biggest barriers to development, calling for stronger accountability systems to support government programmes and national growth.
The Speaker further emphasised alignment between PLU and government development priorities, noting the importance of unity in advancing Uganda’s long-term economic ambitions.
