No One Can Take On Aceng Apart From Me — Amongi

Gender Minister Betty Amongi says her political battle with Dr Jane Ruth Aceng is rooted in what she describes as longstanding divisions and grievances within Lango politics.

The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi Akena, has positioned herself as the main political challenger to Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng in Lango politics, declaring that no one else can confront Aceng over what she described as actions that have divided the region.

Speaking during NBS The Deep Dive on Wednesday, Amongi said her decision to leave the Oyam South parliamentary race and contest in Lira City was deliberate and aimed at directly challenging Aceng.

“No one can take on Dr Jane Ruth Aceng except me, for what she has done to the people of Lango,” Amongi said.

She argued that her political move was not driven by fear of defeat in Oyam South, but by what she called a responsibility to confront a leader she believes has become “a problem and a barrier to unity in Lango.”

Amongi also maintained that she believes she won the recently concluded Lira City Woman MP election despite official results declaring Aceng the winner with 38,000 votes against her 26,199.

She alleged that she possesses evidence of electoral malpractice, including claims of involvement by security personnel in the electoral process. However, she said she would not challenge the results in court.

“I am not going to court because I am not driven by desperation; I am guided by strategy,” she said.

“There are many people across the country who did not win fairly. The President may not always know what is happening, and even when he does, he can sometimes be powerless.”

The remarks come amid escalating tensions between the two ministers following comments attributed to Aceng during a birthday dinner for Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba, where she reportedly suggested that Amongi relied on witchcraft during the election campaign.

According to remarks cited by Amongi, Aceng framed her election victory as divinely ordained.

“My opponent chose to walk with witch doctors, and when I saw that, I said, ‘God, I’m waiting for my victory.’”

“I did not win that election on my own; it was God who did it,” Aceng reportedly said.

Amongi dismissed the allegations, describing herself as a devoted Catholic Christian and accusing Aceng of introducing superstition into political discourse instead of focusing on governance and service delivery.

“The statement of Dr Aceng is not only laughable, but also a tragic reflection of the kind of leadership that continues to hold Uganda back,” Amongi said.

She further claimed that some individuals who portray themselves as devout Christians publicly are privately engaged in questionable conduct.

“Many people who present themselves to the President as devout Christians are, in reality, the worst offenders,” she added.

Amongi also alleged that Aceng publicly acknowledged the role of security agencies in influencing the election outcome during an April 18, 2026 event held for President Yoweri Museveni in Lira.

According to Amongi, Aceng credited the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, police, and prisons services, alongside senior military officials including 5th Division Commander Keith Katungi, for helping secure the victory.

She further accused Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among of coordinating efforts against her candidacy, alleging the Speaker travelled to Lira and played an active role during the election period.

The allegations have not been independently verified, and neither Aceng nor Among had publicly responded at the time of publication.

Amongi said she deliberately chose to remain silent immediately after the election to avoid escalating tensions in Lira and the wider Lango sub-region.

“I have remained silent since the election, not because I accepted defeat, but because I understood that at that moment, reckless actions would plunge our community into chaos,” she said.

She maintained, however, that her silence should not be interpreted as weakness or acceptance of the outcome.

Framing the election as part of a wider political effort to undermine her influence, Amongi argued that Aceng’s political strength is sustained by external backing rather than grassroots support.

“The truth is that Dr Aceng is merely a beneficiary of a much bigger scheme against my candidacy,” she said.

Despite the controversy, Amongi described her campaign as one that united different sections of society across the region.

“My campaign brought together all segments of society. This loss has strengthened me politically because people across Lango now know me,” she said.