Lango MPs hit by NRM reshuffle of committee leaders

A section of the Members of the Lango Parliamentary Group were left in shock on Friday after the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) appointed new legislative committee chairs and parliamentary commissioners, effectively sidelining several key political figures from the sub-region.

The sweeping changes have left many questioning the rationale behind the decisions, as the 12th Parliament begins its term amid growing political tensions.

In stark contrast to the 11th Parliament, where former Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua appointed over seven Members of Parliament from the Lango sub-region to influential committee positions, the current leadership under Government Chief Whip Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has drawn sharp criticism for what some describe as a poor performance in securing positions for the region.

“Under Obua’s tenure, Lango MPs secured key roles including: Dr Samuel Opio Acuti as Vice Chairman of the Health Committee, Tonny Ayoo as Chairman of the ICT Committee, Linda Auma as Chairperson of the Agriculture Committee, Judith Alyek as Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Committee, Okot Boniface as Vice Chairman of the Trade Committee, Docus Acen as Vice Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Committee, and Okot Ogong as a Member of the Pan African Parliament in South Africa,” one of the MPs told tndNews, Uganda.

This publication has been told that the Technical Committee of Parliament had recommended Otuke County MP Paul Omara for the prestigious position of Chairman of the Budget Committee.

“However, in a controversial move, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng overruled the recommendation without providing any clear reason, reversing the technical committee’s decision and leaving many NRM MPs questioning the leadership’s motives.”

Both Otuke County MP Paul Omara and Lira district woman MP Linda Auma “had their names removed from the shortlist despite being qualified and recommended for their respective positions.”

While Omara had applied for the position of Chairman of the Budget Committee and was a leading contender, Linda Auma had applied for the position of Chairperson of the Agriculture Committee and for the position of Commissioner.

On a sad note, both MPs were allegedly removed by GCW Dr Jane Ruth Aceng for her claim that they had supported her political opponent, Betty Amongi Ongom, during the 2026 general elections—a move that some NRM MPs have condemned as politically motivated.

MP Auma has expressed disappointment over the development, stating that her name was removed from the list submitted to CEC members despite being shortlisted for the position she had applied for.

“This is personal greed; it will not make Lango move forward like other tribes. While I was the Chairperson of Agriculture in the 11th Parliament, all districts in Lango received government tractors under the agriculture committee, and very soon another 36 brand new tractors will come to Lango to help boost large-scale farming,” she lamented.

Political analysts and concerned citizens from the Lango sub-region have expressed alarm over the reshuffle, warning that the changes could have far-reaching consequences for Lango’s development.

“This is not going to be our fall alone—it will be the fall of the entire people of Lango sub-region,” one source remarked. Questions have been raised over why Dr Samuel Opio Acuti was removed from the Health Committee chairmanship and reassigned to head the Science and Technology Committee, and why Okot Boniface was moved from Trade to the ICT Committee.

“What will Lango benefit from those committees?” concerned leaders have asked.

All these developments have occurred under the leadership of the Government Chief Whip, as the Constitution empowers the GCW to present both the shortlisted names and those who applied before the CEC committee.

However, critics argue that the process has been marred by political vendettas and regional marginalisation.

Paul Omara stated: “It’s true he had applied for the position of Chairman Budget because he knows the staff and has expert knowledge of the area.”

He was surprised by the allegations that his name was removed, and if that is the case, then NRM needs to revisit the process of appointing both Chairs of the committees and commissioners because it would restore transparency and meritocracy, which are being killed by parochial interests.

However, he added that he was busy conducting leadership training for different SACCO leaders in his constituency and was not aware of what was happening in Kampala.

Sources close to Omara suggest that he is particularly aggrieved that Dr Aceng has allegedly brought political divisions from Lira City into the national leadership process.

It appears that the political tensions from Lira City have not subsided and are now being weaponised by the new Government Chief Whip to settle political scores and punish perceived opponents, even when they are highly rated in their fields of competence.

Observers have noted that Dr Aceng appointed her close ally, Susan Abeja, the Woman MP for Otuke, as a Commissioner in Parliament, further fueling allegations of favouritism.

According to Florence Asiimwe Akiiki, Member of Parliament for Masindi district and former deputy chairperson of the Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation, the Central Executive Committee (CEC) does not have the authority to appoint Parliamentary Commissioners.

She argued that the caucus is the appropriate body to handle parliamentary matters and that this responsibility should be extended to all Members of Parliament—both from the NRM and the opposition—to elect their own commissioners.

This way, if any commissioner misbehaves, they can be censured and removed, ensuring that democracy prevails.

Dr Florence further stated that in the 11th Parliament, commissioners were imposed on members, and the result was the controversial service awards.

She noted that unelected commissioners tend to act with impunity, and therefore, the rules of procedure governing the election of commissioners must be revised.

“This business of not following the rules is going to kill the NRM party and Parliament,” she warned. She also questioned how Susan Abeja, the Woman Member of Parliament for Otuke District, could even be considered for such a role, given her limited experience.

She concluded by saying that there is a lot of mess that Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, the Government Chief Whip (GCW), has started creating.

“While CEC is a top organ, it is not the final decision-maker—it can only recommend. Therefore, it is too early to submit those names to Parliament without first conducting proper cleaning and verification. At this point, another caucus sitting is needed to vet committee members for various positions,” the MP said.

The appointments were endorsed during a meeting of the party’s central Executive Committee leadership as the NRM sought to strengthen its representation on the Parliamentary Commission—the body responsible for overseeing the administration and welfare of Parliament.

When this publication reached out to the GCW for comment, she responded that the rules clearly outline who is vested with the power to designate.

Meanwhile, all committee leadership names are expected to be submitted to Parliament on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.