The Presidency announced on Saturday that it has received a memo from Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity and Official Spokesperson, requesting an indefinite leave of absence due to personal and health-related reasons.

This information was shared late Saturday night through a statement on the Presidency’s official X account, @NGRPresident. The statement, signed by “The Presidency,” confirmed that Ngelale’s reasons for taking leave have been accepted.
“The President has received the memo from Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President as well as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, informing of his decision to proceed on an indefinite leave of absence for personal and health reasons.
“The President accepts his reasons for the leave, fully understands them, and sympathizes with the circumstances that have led to this difficult decision,” the statement read.

The Presidency also acknowledged Ngelale’s tireless efforts and dedication in serving the nation, thanking him for his significant contributions, particularly in advancing national discourse and leading initiatives on climate action and other key projects.
The statement further requested that Ngelale and his family’s privacy be respected during this period.

Earlier, Ngelale had announced his decision to step down from his roles within the Presidency, citing family-related reasons. He explained that this decision was made after extensive consultations with his family, as a challenging medical situation had worsened. He also confirmed stepping down as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.