KAMPALA — The Office of the President has dismissed as fake a list circulating on social media and WhatsApp groups purporting to show a new reshuffle of Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and their deputies.
Minister for the Presidency Milly Babirye Babalanda said the list has no connection to her office or the Office of the President, urging the public and media to disregard it.
“My office has been drawn to a fake list currently in circulation on social media and WhatsApp groups alleging to be a ‘new list for the reshuffle of Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and Deputies,’” Babalanda said.
She described the purported reshuffle list as “FAKE and NOT from the Office of the President.”
The minister’s clarification comes amid growing circulation of the alleged RDC changes across WhatsApp groups and social media platforms, where such lists can quickly gain traction before their authenticity is established.
Babalanda said any genuine changes involving RDCs and their deputies would be communicated through official government channels.
“Any genuine appointments or reshuffles of RDCs will be officially communicated by the Office of the President, through official channels,” she said.
The minister also appealed to media houses and other stakeholders to exercise caution before publishing or circulating purported government appointment lists.
“I therefore urge the public, media houses, and all stakeholders to disregard the fake list and desist from sharing it,” Babalanda said.
RDCs are presidential representatives in districts and play a key role in coordinating government programmes, monitoring service delivery and representing the central government at the local level.
The circulation of purported RDC appointment and reshuffle lists has previously generated considerable public interest because of the political and administrative significance attached to the positions.
However, Babalanda’s statement makes clear that the list currently circulating should not be treated as an official government communication.
Meanwhile, a journalist has been detained and reportedly pressured to reveal his sources over a story alleging corruption in recruitment of Assistant RDCs, as reported Here.
