Honorable Minister Amongi Betty Akena, commonly known as the “political bulldozer” and the “economic temper loser,” has once again donated 100 bags of cement to the Catholic Church in Lira City.
Hundreds of Christians in Erute at St. Phillips Catholic Parish, Lira City East Division, Lira City, could not hide their happiness as Amongi Akena donated 100 bags of cement. Many Christians who spoke to The Ankole Times expressed their joy and gratitude to the Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development during the second church session conducted on Sunday, December 10, 2023, for being a caring leader.
According to Dina Bua, who represented Hon. Minister Amongi at the event to hand over the 100 bags of cement as a donation for the construction of the church at St. Phillips Church, more donations are yet to come. She stated that Hon. Betty Amongi would personally join the congregation to spend time with fellow women during Christmas Day, praying together physically to God about wealth creation and unity in Lira City at St. Phillips Catholic Parish.
Hon. Minister Amongi Betty was on a busy schedule, which prevented her from attending the church last week due to other engagements and assignments in Nakasongla. Meanwhile, Dina Bua added that “Honorable Betty Amongi seems to have changed her political direction towards Lira City from Oyam South County come 2026 due to political pressure from the relatives of her husband based in Senior Quarters in Lira City.”
Dina said there would be an appropriate time to disclose Minister Betty Amongi’s political plans, as she appears to be contemplating contesting with fellow aspirants in Lira City, although she has not officially declared her intentions for the 2026 Woman MP election in Lira City.
Regarding Hon. Minister Betty Amongi Akena’s political bid, people from all walks of life are encouraging her to hurry and contest to win the 2026 general election in Lira City.
In her message, according to Dina Bua, Hon. Amongi encouraged women to work together towards wealth creation, economic social transformation, and fighting poverty in their areas and homes, aligning with the emphasis of H.E the President of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Museveni Kaguta.
In an interview with our reporter, Hon. Amongi Betty said she is supposed to fully take care of the relatives of her husband in Lira City based at Senior Quarters, and she will be ready to do that before the end of 2026.
In his sermon at St. Phillip Catholic Parish, the Vicar General of Lira Diocese, Fr. Valente Opio, preached about the importance of hard work and togetherness to the congregants who turned up in large numbers in the church that day. Fr. Opio Valente added that “John the Baptist was in the wilderness preparing ways for Jesus Christ by preaching to them to prepare and clear all paths to be clean.” He urged Christians to avoid laziness and work hard for success in their homes and the kingdom of God.
The church authorities requested more to be done in terms of developing the church buildings, especially the parish priest residence, which needs construction. The church is being enlarged to accommodate more Christians, as the current space is too small for a larger congregation.
Mr. Okello, an unidentified management member in the church, requested Hon. Minister Amongi to assist them in the future with more iron sheets for roofing the church to finish the ongoing construction.
Dina Bua, while officiating the handover of the 100 bags of cement, assured the Christians that Hon. Minister Amongi Betty would likely celebrate Christmas with her fellow Christians at St. Phillips Catholic Parish, as many are eager to see and share with her physically. She was accompanied by Hellen Lumumba, among other dignitaries, who witnessed the colorful handover of the 100 bags of cement, costing close to 4 million shillings.
Lumumba Hellen said the best investment one should make is to give back to God and develop the house of God.
A month ago, Hon. Betty donated 70 iron sheets to Obanga-Pe-wany Church of Uganda Archdeaconry in Central Park, Lira City. Last week, Minister Amongi Betty also donated 10 million shillings to Ngetta Ginery Yaweah Pentacostal Church-Bethel Assembly, where several Christians requested her to contest as Lira Women MP in the 2026 elections without fear or favor.
Amongi Betty is currently the serving MP for Oyam South Constituency, but she is facing pressure to contest in Lira City as a Woman MP since her husband, Hon. Jimmy Michael Akena Obote, who is the current Lira City East Division MP, resides permanently in Senior Quarters.
Another group of Christians who preferred not to be named in this publication stated that Hon. Amongi Betty must prepare to be the next Woman MP for Lira City in the 2026 elections due to her generous support to the worship places in Lira City.
Amongi will likely face the current Woman MP for Lira City, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, in the 2026 parliamentary elections. Amongi is gaining political momentum from all corners of Lira City, as prominent business community figures like Etwop Godfrey, among others, are fully supporting her.
