Speaker Anita Among Urges Museveni to Ask Betty Amongi to Step Down for Aceng in Lira Race

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to request the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, to step down from the Lira City Woman Member of Parliament race in favour of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng.

The appeal was made on Thursday in Lira City as President Museveni concluded his campaign engagements in the Lango sub-region. Museveni, who is the NRM presidential flag bearer, had launched his campaign trail in Amolatar in October last year before temporarily suspending rallies in Kole and Lira to campaign in other regions. He returned to Lira to wrap up the regional tour.

Betty Amongi, a serving Cabinet minister, is contesting for the Lira City Woman MP seat on the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) ticket. She is facing off with Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the incumbent Woman MP for Lira City and the NRM flag bearer, who also serves as Minister of Health.

Addressing the President, Speaker Among argued that it was politically inappropriate for a minister appointed under an NRM-led government to actively campaign against the ruling party while benefiting from government resources. She asked Museveni, as party leader and appointing authority, to persuade Amongi to voluntarily step aside and support the NRM candidate.

The Speaker emphasised the importance of party loyalty and discipline, especially among individuals holding senior government positions. She noted that accepting an appointment under the NRM administration comes with a responsibility not to work against the party’s political interests.

While acknowledging that some opposition politicians genuinely support the NRM and its ideology, Among cautioned the President against being overly accommodating. She warned that excessive political tolerance during an election period could weaken the ruling party’s cohesion and electoral strength.

She nevertheless praised Museveni for his inclusive leadership and patience, describing the election season as a decisive moment for identifying committed allies. The Speaker also urged the people of Lango to turn out in large numbers to vote for President Museveni as a way of appreciating his fulfilment of development pledges in the region.

Despite the appeal, President Museveni did not directly respond to the Speaker’s request during his nearly one-hour address. Instead, he focused on the NRM’s historical role in restoring peace, stability, and national unity, noting that Uganda had previously suffered due to divisive and sectarian politics.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, called on voters in the Lango sub-region to support Dr Jane Ruth Aceng. He praised her performance, saying she had delivered more tangible development outcomes for the region compared to other legislators.

Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has been serving her first term in Parliament since 2021, when she was elected as the Woman Member of Parliament for Lira City.