Politics in Uganda is still as weird as it could come. Opposition groups are opposing the other and in line with the ruling party.
The leaders of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party in Lira City have “endorsed” Health Minister, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, as their preferred aspirant for the city’s Woman MP seat in the 2026 general election, away from another Opposition Candidate Betty Amongi.
253 FDC members, including the party’s city general secretary Newton Freddie Okello and the party’s city chairman Denis Obote, expressed their support for Dr. Aceng during a meeting held at the minister’s residence in Lira City East Division on March 15, 2025, according to a statement issued on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
The FDC leaders said they are backing Dr. Aceng for the second term because of what they described as her outstanding leadership and commitment to the development of Lira City.
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They also pledged to mobilize support for her in the 2026 general election.
The decision followed a month-long consultation process conducted by FDC leaders across the city, the Wednesday statement added.
Allegedly acknowledging their opposition to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government, FDC members argued that Lira City’s future was at stake.
They went on to emphasize their commitment to an issue-based and peaceful campaign, rejecting any form of intimidation, blackmail, or personal attacks in the political contest.
They clarified that their support for Dr. Aceng is solely based on her performance as Lira City Woman MP and as Uganda’s health minister, further stressing that they have not defected to the NRM and remain firm within the FDC.
However, the Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, Ms. Betty Amongi, a member of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and aspirant to Aceng’s seat, disagreed with the developments.
Ms. Amongi said she came to learn “the desperate plan” by Dr. Aceng to parade people as FDC and UPC who are purportedly endorsing the latter almost two weeks ago.
“Besides FDC, she is also mobilizing some people who are supposed to endorse her as the UPC convert. Before those ‘FDCs’ went for the meeting, some of them sought my permission, which I granted. Another group purported to be UPC is also being mobilized, and I have authorized them to attend her meetings and ‘endorse’ her. FDC failed to protect the seat they held in Dokolo after fronting the daughter of Hon. Cecilia Ogwal; they have been wiped away from Lango, coming third,” Ms. Amongi declared.
She added, “My campaign in Lira City is a people’s movement against the dictatorial leadership of the incumbent; we are liberating ourselves from the intimidation, arrests, and the tyranny being meted out on the people. It knows no party, religion, or class; that’s why my candidacy is embraced by everyone. And that’s why the incumbent is in a panic mood! She knows her fate.”
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