Lango disappointed with ministerial numbers after trusting NRM with high poll scores

Nearly everyone across the Lango sub-region is questioning why they have not been properly rewarded by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. 

Some – speaking openly – and others anonymously – question why Lango was given only four ministerial positions despite giving Museveni and his NRM party 84% of votes in the January general elections.

In the Museveni’s new government, he has made a serious reshufflement dropping several senior figures from the region, including former Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua, and former Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development Betty Amongi Ongom.

Speaking on April 18, 2026, at Lango College play ground in Lira City, the NRM Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda, Denis Hamson Obua, presented statistics from the recent 2026 general election to President Museveni.

Obua noted that out of 7.9 million votes nationwide, accounting for 71.65% turnout, the Lango sub-region contributed 538,044 votes, representing 84.48%.

On top of that, Northern Uganda, which covers three sub-regions of Lango, Acholi, and West Nile, contributed over 1,411,561 votes.

The former Government Chief Whip added that since the NRM government took power in 1986, the Lango sub-region has been achieving political relevance and national ranking.

He stated that in 1996, President Museveni got 61,608 votes (17.3%) from Lango, followed by 76,929 votes in 2001 (20.7%).

In 2006, Lango recorded its lowest result with only 45,012 votes (13.3%). In 2011, Museveni got 243,725 votes (56.4%). In 2016, the region produced 291,295 votes (over 50.7%), while in 2021, the number increased to 387,939 votes (65.7%).

The 2026 performance rose to 538,044 votes.

At Lango College, President Museveni thanked Lango for the massive votes they granted him in the recent general election.

He said that as a government, there are things to be done in the next five years.

Reactions across the sub-region remain mixed, with many residents expressing frustration over what they describe as a continued pattern of receiving only four ministerial positions, arguing that it leaves the sub-region “under the political table.”

For example, they cite the dropping of Betty Amongi, the removal of Hamson Obua, and the reassignment of Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng from her professional role as Health Minister without due regard to the Ebola threat currently facing the country.

Similarly, Sam Engola’s ministry is seen as unlikely to benefit the people’s needs, while Minister Santa Alum’s role is limited to monitoring economic projects in the Office of the President.

The Lango community describes these appointees as “leftovers,” not first-class ministers.

Jacob Ocen, the Lira City NRM publicity secretary, said that while they welcome the appointments, they note that Lango gave the highest percentage of votes in the recent election yet received only four ministers.

“In my view, the president should have retained the three ministers Lango previously had in their respective portfolios, while also bringing in new faces such as Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti of Kole North and Paul Omara of Otuke County,” Ocen said.

“Lira, Otuke, and Kole districts all strongly promoted the NRM manifesto, which is why all of their MPs belong to the NRM party,” he added.

Speaking on Monday, June 1, 2026, in Lira City, Bosco Onyik Ogwal, the Oyam district NRM chairperson, noted that out of the 32 cabinet ministers and 50 ministers of State, and according to Section 111 of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda (as amended in 2005), “there shall be a Cabinet which shall consist of the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister and such number of Ministers as may appear to the President to be reasonably necessary for the efficient running of the State.”

Onyik added that if this appointment was going to be ranked based on the recent 2026 general election results, the Lango sub-region should have been granted the highest number of ministers.

For that matter, he requested the appointing authority to add more ministers for Lango because West Nile got six, Acholi got five, while Lango was awarded only four, despite contributing more than other sub-regions.

In the breakdown, Western Uganda was awarded 18 ministers, Buganda 21, Eastern 15, while Northern Uganda: Acholi, Lango, and West Nile have only 16 ministerial positions.

Tonny Olipa, Lira City West NRM chairperson, said the Lango sub-region voted massively. He stated that this is unfair because Lango scored over 84%, beating even the region where President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni comes from.

As NRM leaders, they are requesting the president to reward them with more ministers so that the people of Lango can also benefit equally like other regions.

Olipa added that in the last government, 2021–2026, Lango had only four ministers, and when Okello Engola died, no one was appointed to replace him, leaving them with only three.

Since May 26, 2026, when President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni released the list of new ministers, people on various social media platforms—especially in Lango—have been appreciating the little they have.

They argue that since some districts in Lango were established, ministers have perennially come from the same districts.