The ground is now clear and set for political heavyweights, Hon. Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero and Hon. Betty Amongi Akena, to demonstrate to the electorate why each of them deserves the position of Lira City Woman MP come the 2026 general elections.
By virtue of their capacities, both Minister Amongi Betty and Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng sit in Cabinet and are equally valued by the appointing authority, the President of the Republic of Uganda Gen. Yoweri Museveni Kaguta.
All of them are highly educated and qualified for the job. Hon. Dr. Aceng has attained the highest qualification in the medical field, while Hon. Amongi Betty Akena holds high qualifications in the legal field and other qualifications obtained from recognized universities abroad.
As a matter of fact, prominent Lira City tycoons such as Ocol Johnson, Dr. Morris Chris Ongom, among others, are in full support of Hon. Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero. On the other hand, Hon. Minister Betty Amongi Akena is silently being supported at the moment by highly placed city tycoons such as Etwop Geoffrey, Presidential Advisor Okello Francis Opio, and others who are waiting to show their full support come the official nomination date by the Independent Electoral Commission of Uganda.
In terms of their contributions to public functions and to the communities, the two are both scoring fifty-fifty out of 100 percent. Minister Dr. Jane has achieved significantly in the health sector, with initiatives like the blood bank, providing sitting tents, satellite laboratory construction, fixing and maintaining roads within the city, and provision of jerrycans, among others.
Meanwhile, Hon. Betty Amongi Akena has distributed thousands of hand hoes to farmers in Lira City, constructed Anyomorem bridge worth over UGX 800 million, provided sitting tents, a Lira City van, and seeds to farmers, among other key contributions.
Medical personalities, Lira City NRM die-hards, and original supporters of Hon. Minister Aceng are strongly behind her support and strength. Whereas UPC supporters, voters of Hon. Jimmy Michael Akena Obote, and some NRM supporters may still have sympathy votes for Hon. Amongi Betty Akena in 2026, considering the background of the UPC party in the Lango sub-region.
There has been defection in both camps of the two ministers, with the latest including Mr. Acai, who crossed from UPC’s Akena camp to join the team of Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero. The camp of Hon. Betty Amongi also has prominent personalities such as Acup Rashid, Hon. Odongo Odul, and Dina Bua, who should not be underrated by Hon. Minister Dr. Jane Aceng’s team.
Anyway, the two ministers are still heading for a fifty-fifty (50 percent) victory out of 100 percent as of now, ahead of the 2026 general election. Fortunately, both of them are utilizing social media and radio airwaves very well, which is an advantage to both sides as far as publicity is concerned.”
