Exclusive: Oyam South had lost hope in Betty Amongi 

Oyam | It would be extremely difficult for Betty Amongi to be a member of the 12th Parliament for the Oyam South people, tndNews has been informed.

While she has implemented some tangible interventions in Oyam South, she has created a significant gaps with her constituents, locals say.

Furthermore, local leaders and constituents say Amongi has “changed her colors” since 2021, and every project she has introduced for them – through her proxies – has resulted in financial charges.

From portable solar lights to hand hoes, to gomesi, nothing has been free, they said. Some constituents have paid between shs3,000 and shs5,000 to receive such items.

Terence Omonya, LC3 chairperson of Kamdini sub-county, stated that complaints from the people of Oyam South against their MP Amongi should not be taken lightly. “Once they elect a leader, they want him or her to be closer to them,” Omonya explained, noting that ministerial responsibilities could have overwhelmed her.

The sub-county boss added that he finds complaints that Amongi neglected her people beginning in 2021 to be “very correct.” “Even I saw her once since 2021. She has been concentrating on the duties the government gave her, it’s like sometimes her commitment are overwhelming.”

“There is always a recess, so it is important for a leader like her to spend some time with her people. One example was during the recent Christmas period.”

Omonya recalls some of the initiatives launched by MP Amongi for her constituents. “I heard she brought solar panels that were sold at a subsidised rate. If it’s helping the local people, then it [she] has worked.”

Complaints of neglects and late accountability by Amongi seem to overpower some of the good things the UPC MP may have made since becoming the Oyam South representative in Parliament, he said.

Regarding Amongi’s decision to run in Lira City and how the people of Oyam South feel, Omonya stated that it is her constitutional right. He did, however, mention that it was a personal decision and that she did not have a good conception.

“As a local leader, I have heard from residents that she has lost support. Honorable Alum Santa is popular and has assumed some of her [Among’s] responsibilities. You can hear Alum at a burial. Once in a while I would hear Amongi’s messages at burials.

“But Honorable Betty, when she decided to go there [Lira City], it is as if she had a thought: now that I am going, I will just come and say “thank you.”

“I hear she is moving around saying thank you to everyone…”

What makes Amongi’s competition against “her sister,” Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, in Lira City so difficult?

“What people are seeing is that her decision to run in Lira City may not be an opportunity for her or Lango. When you look across the country’s tribes, Lango only has her and Dr. Jane in ministerial positions; one of them will most likely lose that top office because she has no political support for the President to assign her.

“I wish she had an idea and decided to run in another constituency so that President Museveni can appoint them all again. If I were to advise her, I would tell her that now that Honorable Aceng has stabilized the constituency, she has the option of running in a neighboring constituency.

“Dr. Jane has settled in Lira City, while Amongi has a home in Lira City East from which she can contest and progress. Now, with two of them in the same constituency, one is almost certain to lose.”

For the sake of Lango, and because Lango has two ministers, the local leader advised Minister Amongi to reconsider her current decision.

Last year, tndNews’ special edition “Their Voices” published sentiments, cries, and regrets from a section of Oyam South constituents in Loro, Aber, Kamdini, Myene, and Minakulu about their MP’s decision to leave them.

Some constituents urged Amongi to return Southward and apologize for ignoring and abusing their votes, while others advised her to abandon Lira City’s political ambitions.

Many agreed that she had lost touch with them and was diverting their constituency projects and funds to Lira City.

According to Omonya, Lango should look at how “proximate she has been.” “The voters have been crying because she is not close to them, but I do not believe it is because of their pressure; she returned to say goodbye. The cries are genuine; she should have returned to her voters much earlier.

“Truth be told, people do not see her in the way I have been hearing. The wannanachi are complicated; they want to see you, interact with you, and see what you do for them. They do not understand that the work of a Member of Parliament is limited to legislation; they need you back to support them.

“When you go to Parliament and it takes as long to return as it does now, you realize that one bad thing ruins all of your good work.”

In his message to residents and potential voters for 2026 elections, Omonya refers to Lira City as “home for every one of us.”

“Elections are coming; it is a constitutional right of Ugandans. Everyone needs to keep an open mind and vote for someone who can help. We will be better off if Lango can elect people on merit rather than dubious grounds.

“Let there be no chaos in the upcoming elections, and no plans to kill one another. Some individuals focus their efforts on spreading propaganda against others….we should not base our decisions on propaganda; instead, we should strive for personal growth, and if a politician comes, let him or her tell you what is important to you.

“It is true that God chooses leaders for his people,” he said. “But God does so based on the character of the people at the time, of the area. If you [the people of Lira City] are not prepared and focused, He [God] will choose for you someone who is “not serious, who is on and off like you.

“If you do what God wants, he will provide you with a suitable leader. Politics is not a business; it is about representing the needs and opinions of the people.”

If Betty Amongi does a U-turn

James Omara, a boda boda rider in Kamdini town council, believes Amongi has no chance of winning her seat in 2026 if she makes a U-turn.

“We have got options,” he said. “Personally, I will elect her successor based on what he or she promises and demonstrates competency in doing.”

Oyam South has been without a Member of Parliament for almost three years, Omara, 34, said, adding that it is unacceptable for a politician to leave her community and go somewhere busy before a new election is held.

Amongi has the right to remain in Oyam South and would receive “some votes,” according to Omonya. “However, votes are given to you based on what you did. If you begin on the wrong note, you will automatically lose supporters. In 2026, she would scratch harder for votes, bulls are now there for the same seat.

“Even in 2021, when she stood with Queen (Amolo Dorothy), she sweated a lot to get through, and she remembers how difficult it was to get to Parliament.

“She still has supporters, but if she changed her mind, her percentage would drop because I pay attention to what the wananachi say.”

From Apac to Oyam South and now Lira City, some constituents believe she may end up in Apac!