SDA women hail Babalanda for addressing domestic violence

By Jackie Nambogga

JINJA - The director for women and children ministries at the Central Uganda Conference (CUC) in the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA), Lillian Mugerwa, has commended Minister for the Presidency Milly Babirye Babalanda for addressing domestic violence among believers.

She says Babalanda’s initiatives of encouraging women to preach the gospel alongside having food at household levels had greatly reduced cases of domestic violence among women, children and men in the Church.

“Cases of domestic violence in families that are God-fearing and with food in homes are uncommon, this is the right direction to champion as a Church,” Mugerwa emphasized.
This was during the Women’s Day celebrations in Busoga Field at the SDA Church located at Mailo Mbiri in Jinja city on March 1, 2025.

During the event, 72-year-old Specioza Bitali of Bugongwe village, Buyengo sub-county in Jinja district testified how Babalanda had taught them to sustain their homes without necessarily being dependent.

Babalanda is also the director of women's ministries Busoga Field and she is the brains behind the women’s day event.

At such functions, Bitali said the minister would remind them of the principals of the Adventist Church, which does not only provide relevancy of God’s word but also pushes people to develop their social skills, build strong families and be useful citizens within their communities.

She said they were following the biblical teachings which she shared with them of a godly woman who cares for herself, and tends to her home and family.

Bitali, who grows garden eggs (entula) and sells some, said she supports her husband by buying basics like sugar, salt and soap rather than burdening him including their children.

As an elder who settles domestic cases in the village, Bitali explained how she had been able to encourage women with land to grow food and that this had drastically addressed the vice.

Well-known for sugarcane growing, Bitali said most homes in Buyengo were facing food insecurity, but they were encouraging mothers to improvise their courtyards to grow vegetables and fast-maturing foods to sustain their families.

“Lack of food in homes is partly fuelling domestic violence but we have continued to speak to the women to use their small pieces of land optimally which they have embraced,” she said.

Meanwhile, 70-year-old Tapenensi Kitamirike, from Buwenge in Jinja district said it was impossible to preach the word of God while poor.

She said Babalanda emphasized wealth creation on such celebrations and her family was into piggery.

“Our family project is sitting on a small piece of land but we are minting money. I couldn’t preach the word of God while poor but I am now a change agent in my area,” she said.

Mugerwa (left) and Babalanda after dedicating Tenywa's new FUSO truck during the Busoga Field SDA Women's Day in Jinja town on Saturday. (Credit: Jackie Nambogga)

Accordingly, Mugerwa described Babalanda who contributed shillings two million towards the event as a very hardworking person who was a gift both to the nation and SDA church.

“Babalanda is a gift, she is very hardworking and serving the nation well including the church,” she said.

Look to God

Marked under the theme ‘Reach out to Christ’ Mugerwa cautioned women against going to witch doctors to fix their various challenges saying God’s powers work instantly if they trusted him.

She urged the senior women in the church not to forget their roles of counselling disgruntled families.

“The Church is counting on women aged 60 and above to nurture today’s generation lest the church will collapse,” said Mugerwa as she commended the widows for remaining faithful to their vows.

Jinja city woman legislator Manjeri Kyebakutika said women were key in uplifting families quoting Psalms 121 as she asked them to trust God.

The only female opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) MP contributed shillings 400,000 towards the running of the event on top of donating 70 bags of cement towards the construction of the Maranatha house at the church.

During the event, Isaac Tenywa a church member from Masese-Kilembe village in Jinja southern division brought his newly acquired Fuso truck for blessings and dedication.

Babalanda urged Christians to understand the value of dedication before God whenever they achieve new things in their lives.

Tenywa said this was his dream vehicle which he had to present before God before starting its operations.