Lango: Daughters and sons expected to be appointed ministers

Lira, Lango – 23, May 2021: President Museveni is expected to name new cabinet to help him properly secure the future of Ugandans by 2026. Gen. Museveni dissolved cabinet more than 14 days ago, and on 12, May 2021, he took another oath as president for 6th term.

In power since 1986, the National Resistance Movement national chairman is expected to reward his party members, among them MPs. Like he did before, he is expected to show another generosity to “opposition party members [MPs]” by appointing them ministers.

In the just concluded term of office: 2016-2021, more than two MPs from Lango worked with Museveni as ministers. Hon. Amongi Betty Ongom [Oyam South, UPC], Hon. Denis Hamson Obua [Ajuri County, Alebtong, NRM], Hon. Okello P. Charles Okello Engola Macodwogo [Oyam North, NRM] worked as ministers.

And with new appointment expected “soon” according to sources at State House, there are reports that some Lango MPs have been considered. “Lango will be rewarded by the president for the recent victories NRM got from there.

What i can say is that, more than four daughters and sons have been approved by the president,” a source, close to the appointing authority, told TND New.

Below are some of the MPs likely to be re[appointed] by the president.

Amongi Betty Ongom

She’s a wife to UPC party leader – Hon. James Micheal Akena. The Obote’s son is also the Lira City East Division MP in the 11th Parliament. Amongi is the Oyam South MP (UPC) who has worked with NRM government for years. She was a Cabinet Minister for Lands before being appointed Minister in-charge Kampala City and Metropolitan Affairs.

Hon. Amongi is Museveni’s ‘trusted daughter’ according to those near her. Some claim that for anybody to see the President from Lango, the Oyam South MP is ever involved.

In the next appointment, she is expected to be retained as a Minister for Kampala.

Dr Jane Ruth Aceng

The Lira City Woman MP served as a Health Minister in the last NRM government. She’s trusted by the President – per our sources and she will be rewarded for her efforts in containing Covid-19 in the country. Dr Aceng played a key role, alongside her team from the Ministry of Health, including different stakeholders in fighting the pandemic.

“She is coming back to Health Ministry for her recent roles on Covid-19 pandemic,” a source told us.

Denis Hamson Obua

He served as a Minister of State for Sports in the last government. During his short time as a minister, he advocated for  funding to different sports disciplines in the country. Obua who’s the Ajuri County MP in Alebtong district is admired by the President. He’s one of the MPs expected to be appointed a minister.

Paul Omara

The Otuke County MP (IND) is an economist as well as a retired banker. He’s also an entrepreneur and a community transformer. He worked for different banking institutions for 23 years; working for Bank of Uganda, Bank of Baroda and Standard Bank Group where he spent 11 years.  Currently, he’s a Board member of Housing Finance Bank; a non-executive director and also at ICA Alliance as a board member.

MP Omara is also the CEO of Ngetta Tropical Holdings, the producer of Virgin Gold Cooking Oil. With vast experience and the exposure he has, he’s among those the President will appoint from Lango.

Dr Opio Samuel Acuti

Dr Opio is the Kole North MP on Independent ticket.

Mr. Opio, 39, has been a Director and the Supervising Pharmacist at CiplaQCIL since 2009, having joined the Company in 2007 as Quality Assurance Pharmacist.

He was also a Supervising Pharmacist at Kwality Afro-Asia and an Intern Pharmacist at Mulago National Referral Hospital. The Kole North MP has had high profile engagements with both President Museveni and Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta in recent years, especially when he was still at CiplaQCIL.

His aides say he opted to join politics after witnessing constant social sufferings, unemployment the people of Kole and Lango in general go through yearly.

In July 2020, Uganda Pharmaceutical Society endorsed him for Kole North MP seat. Read below:

“We, the Pharmacy owners, Pharmacists and Pharmacy professionals in Uganda

“INFORMED of the intentions expressed by Dr Opio Samuel Acuti to contest for the Kole North Member of Parliament seat 2021-2026.

“AWARE that he is a person of high moral calibre, great leadership skills and diverse capabilities to spur the progress of Kole North

“ACKNOWLEDGING as witnesses of the achievements he has made in the pharmaceutical sector in Uganda towards improving matters related to medicines and the Pharmacist workforce.

“PLEDGING our support to the people of Kole North to work with him with our expansive pool of networks in various countries, organizations and skills as Pharmacy owners and Pharmacists.

“We now hereby endorse his candidature for Member of Parliament for Kole North Constituency 2021-2026 and urge the people of Kole North to vote for him as their leader in the coming elections.

Finally, Dr Opio is expected to be another minister from Lango, according to reports.

Okello Engola Macodwogo

He was a Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs. Engola is also the Oyam North MP in Oyam district. He is was rewarded by president Museveni for his efforts in fighting LRA rebels in Northern Uganda, among others.

Paul Amoru Omiat

The former Dokolo South MP in the 10th Parliament is another person likely to be appointed a minister. According to sources, Hon. Amoru missed out from being appointed a minister when the President made the last changes to his cabinet years ago. This time, even when he is out of Parliament, he might still eat big.

Agness Atim Apea

She’s the Amolatar district Woman MP in the 11th Parliament on NRM ticket.

Dr. Agnes Atim Apea is the founder and CEO of the Hope Development Initiative (HDI), an organization dedicated to empowering rural women in Uganda to become financially independent. She is another Lango daughter expected to be appointed a minister in Museveni’s 6th term.

Others likely to be appointed include: Agness Linda Auma (Lira District Woman MP) who’s also the Lira district NRM Vice Chairperson, Felix Okot Ogong (MP, Dokolo South, NRM) and James Micheal Akena (MP, Lira City East Division (UPC).