Lira City, Uganda – Tension gripped Lira City on the morning of Sunday, August 17, 2025, after residents woke up to find campaign posters and banners of Hon. Minister Betty Amongi Akena, the UPC candidate for Lira City, had been completely removed overnight and replaced with those of Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero.
Hon. Jimmy Michael Akena Obote, MP and husband to Minister Amongi, accused certain individuals in Lira of resorting to petty political tactics like removing campaign materials. He warned that they would soon witness what real politics looks like.
Both Hon. Akena and Hon. Amongi alleged that the operation to remove the posters was orchestrated and led by Lira City RCC Lawrence Egole, Mayor Sam Atul, and ARCC Boney Otucu, allegedly in collaboration with agents of Dr. Aceng.
According to Hon. Amongi, some security personnel and hired goons carried out the operation while wearing face masks to conceal their identities, fearing backlash from the city’s population—most of whom support Amongi.
The operation is believed to have started at around 11:00 PM and continued until about 3:00 AM. The removed posters and banners, estimated to be worth UGX 87 million, were reportedly burned.
Hon. Amongi revealed that the scheme began earlier, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, when the District Police Commander (DPC) informed her that RCC Egole had chaired a security meeting and instructed police to collaborate with city law enforcement to remove her posters. The reason given was that His Excellency, the President of Uganda, was expected in Lira on August 17, and officials did not want the city to be decorated with Amongi’s red-themed campaign posters, while Dr. Aceng’s presence remained minimal.
As a result, street poles and electricity poles were reportedly re-decorated with Dr. Aceng’s campaign materials.
Several local leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, condemned the incident and said that many boda boda riders and market vendors were shocked and angered. There are increasing calls for RCC Egole and ARCC Otucu to be transferred to another region due to what they describe as a conflict of interest. Regarding Mayor Sam Atul, many residents have vowed to “sort him out” at the ballot box during the upcoming elections.
When contacted, Hon. Betty Amongi confirmed the incident, stating that she has gathered evidence, including video footage and witness statements. She has since reported the matter to the Vice President, Hon. Jessica Alupo, and the Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Milly Babirye Babalanda. She also stated her intention to pursue the matter legally, administratively, and politically.
One witness, identified only as Jackson, said he recorded video evidence of the incident and narrowly escaped being shot by a police officer involved in the operation.
Earlier, on Thursday, a similar attempt to remove Amongi’s posters in broad daylight was foiled when city enforcement officers were chased away by boda boda riders and street vendors along Obote Avenue. This is believed to have prompted the shift to a nighttime operation.
Additionally, Hon. Amongi’s team accuses agents linked to Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, led by one Ebuk Sam (alias Sam Samu), of buying portable Amongi posters from shop owners and replacing them with those of Dr. Aceng in exchange for a monthly payment of UGX 50,000. However, they claim this strategy has largely failed, as more residents continue to display Amongi’s posters.
According to the UPC camp, after failing to gain widespread support, RCC Egole, reportedly under instructions from Dr. Aceng, has now resorted to intimidation, threats, and abuse of office—targeting businesspeople, media personnel, civil servants, NRM supporters backing Amongi, and market vendors. Many in the NRM now fear that such incidents will negatively affect votes for both Hon. Amongi and President Museveni in the coming elections.
Efforts to reach RCC Lawrence Egole and ARCC Boney Otucu for comment were unsuccessful by the time of compiling this report, as neither responded to multiple phone calls.
Meanwhile, Hon. Jimmy Michael Akena, Minister Amongi Betty Akena, Odongo Odul, and several other UPC leaders were seen at Lira Central Police Station filing a formal complaint.
