From COVID Hero to ‘Class Monitor’: Odonga Otto Slams Aceng’s Demotion to Chief Whip

Former Aruu County MP Hon Odonga Otto has fired back at President Museveni’s Cabinet reshuffle, calling the move of Dr Jane Ruth Aceng from Health Minister to Government Chief Whip “a profound insult” to Lango and to Uganda’s COVID-19 fight.

Appearing on Voice of Lango 88.0 Fm over the weekend, Otto argued that Aceng’s role in managing Uganda’s pandemic response made her demotion hard to justify.

“Without Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, COVID-19 would have devastated Uganda. This brilliant daughter of Lango utilized her intellect and expertise to the absolute limit to save our nation,” Otto said.

He questioned the logic of shifting a doctor who led the country through a global health crisis into a parliamentary coordination role.

“To now demote her to the role of a parliamentary ‘class monitor’ is a profound insult. How do you take the very Minister of Health who saved this country and make her the Government Chief Whip? What exactly is the value of a Chief Whip compared to her medical leadership?”

Otto suggested that even amid political considerations, Aceng deserved to stay within health.

“Even if there was immense political friction, she should have at least been appointed Minister of State for Health, not Government Chief Whip,” he stated.

Days after announcing the 2026–2031 Cabinet, State House swapped the roles of Dr Aceng and Justine Kasule Lumumba. Aceng was first named Minister of ICT and National Guidance, then redesignated as Government Chief Whip to fix a constitutional requirement that the Whip must be a sitting MP.

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