Lira | 2026 has come swiftly for fans of the Oyam South MP and Gender Minister Betty Amongi who has declared interest to contest in Lira City in the next general elections.
Amongi has recruited her “soldiers” on the grounds, all of whom now use social media platforms to encourage her ahead of 2026.
Her decision to quit Oyam South and compete against “her sister” and fellow minister has caused mixed feelings in Lango. Many say she’s fighting a wrong person, others think she has made the right choice.
In an interview with tndNews Nelly Nelson Otto months ago this year, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, whose Lira City Woman MP seat Amongi wants desperately, said she is not scared.
With political pundits and supporters weighing in on the Gender Minister’s move, former High Commissioner of Uganda in London, Ambassador Julius Peter Moto has commented, criticising those encouraging the Oyam South MP to quit for Lira.
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Here are the words Ambassador Moto has penned:
President Museveni favoured Lango by appointing two highly educated Lango females in Cabinet, namely Hon Dr Jane Ruth Acheng Ochero as Minister of Health and Hon Betty Amongi Akena as Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development of the Republic of Uganda.
These two legislators are hardworking and are loved by the people of Lango. However, for reasons unknown to many, these two powerful politicians are poised to face each other during the 2026 parliamentary elections.
Hon Betty Amongi was categorically clear on Voice of Lango Radio, Lira City yesterday (Saturday) night when she used a Lango proverb: “ni ebino tuku kede amue mere i Lira City” – loosely translated as: “I’m coming to play with my in law in Lira City.”
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Whoever is encouraging Hon Betty to leave Oyam South for Lira City where the incumbent MP, Hon Dr Jane Acheng is doing a good job is an enemy of Lango.
Definitely, one of the two will lose in the elections. These two Lango politicians are strong opponents, not enemies. Let us support one without hating the other.
All political comments should be factually decent and with the respect they deserve. I for one do not support Hon Betty in her bid to unseat Hon Jane.
Also read: Amongi’s planned move to Lira City in 2026 does not scare me – Dr Jane Aceng
She should stay in her lane…. “mono cungu me nyeko, ryeko pe iye.” (That is a political contest of greed, with no intelligence).
However, Hon Betty is welcome to expand her businesses to Lira and elsewhere without particularly participating in Lira politics. It’s healthy for progress.
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