Confusion is at a high state in Lira City where the supporters of two prominent female ministers in Lango are clashing on social media platforms to gain momentum for each particular candidate as the year 2026 draws nearer. On some of the prominent social media forums created in Lango sub-region, there is suspected high cyber harassment against supporters of each minister (Hon. Betty Amongi Akena and Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng), which could be contrary to the rule of law if proven beyond reasonable doubt.
As of now, Hon. Sarah Awor Angweri, the councilor representing workers in the Lira City council, on Monday, 11th December 2023, began a legal redress journey and dragged two popular social media users on a WhatsApp group called “Lango Political Times” on allegations of cyber harassment and computer misuse as possible charges against them. Awor claims that a member tagged Shepherd (real name Akullu Babra and Akao Caroline) attacked her family’s private life involving her husband, which she says is not true and was fabricated by the two accused.
According to the workers’ representative in Lira City council, Hon. Sarah Awor Angweri, she has personally reported a case already at Lira Central Police Station (CPS) under SD REF: 35/11/12/2023 against two personalities who are highly suspected to be from one of the minister’s camps, which The Ankole Times has also confirmed from the police at Lira CPS on Monday evening.
Awor asserted that “we don’t know whose interest is being fronted in Lira City.” Since when did the government open ways for the 2026 campaign? Some people are using the WhatsApp forum for insulting political opponents. Meanwhile, Awor suspects that others are paid money to abuse and insult people on some WhatsApp forums in Lango.
“I have already secured a lawyer to take me through the whole legal process, and I am ready to proceed and face Akao Caroline and Akullu Babra in the court of law soon,” Awor Sarah added. She appeals to all the administrators of WhatsApp groups in Lango to regulate discussions, especially ‘Lango Political Times,’ which was created by one Awongo Patrick Ogwal with no clear motives. She also calls upon all opinion leaders, cultural leaders, and human rights defenders to rescue Lira City by calling the two ministers’ supporters to order. Otherwise, Lira City may experience problems because of the two opponents trading insults in each other’s camps.
Finally, she calls upon the President of the Republic of Uganda, who is also the party chairman for NRM, to put his two ministers in order because he is the appointing authority. Otherwise, the citizens of Lira City may be forced to act. NRM supporters in Lango are being attacked badly by some opposition political parties on social media. If not rescued, they may take to the streets demanding protection and freedom as NRM supporters in Lira City and Lango sub-region.
When contacted for comment on the phone on Monday evening, one of the administrators of the group called (Lango Political Times) accused by Awor, said he was not aware of the hate speech and cyber harassment taking place in the group. Awongo Patrick Ogwal said he does not know Akao Caroline and Akullu Babra, the two individuals Awor has complained about to the police, whether at a personal level, and added that he has never met them before.
“You know Awor Sarah has her political interests in the City,” Awongo Patrick narrated to this publication. He doesn’t have anything to say because for more than a week, he has not been very active on the forum due to being busy driving a long distance where he didn’t check WhatsApp messages frequently. “Awor Sarah is somebody who knows me personally, and she should have called me in case someone was defaming or harassing her,” Awongo replied on the phone.
Lastly, according to Awongo, he cannot be online every day, and sometimes messages are so long that even about 500, you cannot read them all. He blamed those two people for going personal and apologized on behalf of the admin. He said the two accused by Hon. Awor should face the law for cyber harassment, and the rest will learn a lesson from them.
One of the group members who preferred anonymity told The Ankole Times newspaper that both Minister Betty Amongi Akena and Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng have no problems with the tensions taking place on social media platforms. The problems are with a few undisciplined supporters.
Minister Betty Amongi is believed to be eyeing the Lira Woman MP seat in 2026, promising to shift her official residence from Oyam South County to Lira City at Senior Quarters located in Lira City East Division, where her husband, Hon. Jimmy Michael Akena, the UPC party president, is serving as the MP of Lira City East Division. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng is the serving Lira City Women MP who intends to contest again for the same position in 2026.
Hon. Sarah Awor is also rumored to be eyeing the same Lira City Woman MP seat or Lira District Woman MP seat, where she will face other aspiring candidates, including the current Lira Woman MP Agness Auma Linda.
