Internal Affairs Minister General Kahinda Otafiire has issued a stern challenge to Oyam South MP Betty Amongi, urging her to prioritize the development of her own constituency before attempting to unseat Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng from the Lira City Woman MP seat.
Speaking during the 2025 Bodaboda Festival in Lira City, where he served as the chief guest, Otafiire questioned Amongi’s contributions to her electorate.
“Why are you running away from your constituency? Go back and show your people what you’ve achieved for them. Don’t bring your failures here to Lira City. Aceng has delivered — can you say the same?” he asked.
Using a pointed analogy, Otafiire compared leadership to owning a cow. “A cow’s value is in its milk. When it stops producing, it goes to the butcher. Aceng is yielding milk for the people of Lira,” he remarked, drawing applause from the crowd.
Amid cheers from the audience, Otafiire reiterated his support for Dr. Aceng. “Amongi is my friend and colleague, but she belongs to the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).
My loyalty in politics is with Aceng, a dedicated member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), who has delivered tangible results for her people,” he said.
Aceng Praised for Transformative Leadership
The festival, organized by the Lira United Motorcycle Bodaboda Association (LUMBA), provided an opportunity for local leaders to highlight Dr. Aceng’s achievements.
Lira Resident City Commissioner Lawrence Egole commended her efforts, pointing to significant projects under her leadership.
These include the construction of a sh5.3 billion modern satellite laboratory at Lira Hospital, the establishment of an oxygen plant, an incinerator, and an ambulance dispatch call center.
Dr. Aceng also oversaw the upgrading of Anyangatir, Punulum, and Anyomorem Health Centre IIIs, as well as substantial improvements to city roads and infrastructure.
“For the first time, the people of Lira City elected a representative on the NRM ticket. This has ensured that all development projects are effectively channeled to the city,” Egole noted, adding that over 10,000 households have benefited from Parish Development Model initiatives under Aceng’s stewardship.
The event concluded with bodaboda riders crowning Dr. Aceng as their patron, acknowledging her transformative contributions to the city.
Otafiire Criticizes UPC
During his address, Otafiire did not hold back in criticizing the UPC. “The UPC is ungrateful. We invited them to the table, gave them a piece of the cake, and now, having finished theirs, they want to grab ours. That is unfair and unacceptable,” he stated.
He also welcomed 28 defectors from the UPC who had joined the NRM, encouraging them to add value to their communities.
“When given an opportunity to serve, make a difference. If you don’t change, change will change you,” he warned.
Calls for Unity
Sports State Minister Peter Ogwang added his voice to the support for Dr. Aceng, praising her determination and advocacy.
“In one meeting, Aceng told the education minister, in the presence of President Museveni, that if Akii Bua Stadium is not built, there will be no votes in Lango,” Ogwang recalled, urging residents to rally behind their leader.
The event underscored the growing support for Dr. Aceng in Lira City, with Otafiire and other leaders calling for unity within the NRM to protect the region’s achievements.
