Betty Amongi, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, is reportedly planning to contest against Dr Jane Ruth Aceng for the Lira City Woman MP seat in 2026.
Multiple reports indicate that Amongi intends to cross over from the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and contest in Lira city as a Woman Member of Parliament, and also serve as NRM National Vice-Chairperson.
Amongi has not yet confirmed the reports, but there are signs that indicate her interest in Lira city.
Recently, she brought sewing machines and salon equipment for 200 female youth in Lira city and gave sh300m to be used by female market vendors as a revolving loan and pledged to add sh500m in six months if the money was used properly.
When asked about the rumour, Amongi said it was not yet possible for one to cross over to NRM unless they wanted to lose their position in Parliament.
However, she did not rule out the possibility of crossing over to NRM in the future, saying that “in 2026, we shall cross the bridge when we reach there.”
Amongi, who is the Member of Parliament for Oyam South and the wife of UPC party president Jimmy Michael Akena, said she had received a report indicating that some politicians in Lango were undermining the development of the sub-region. Amongi said she would not sit back, but defend the people of Lango. She went on to add that whoever crosses her path while defending the people, makes her lose her temper.
The matter in Lira city is over public land where some businessmen connive with district leaders and unlawfully buy the public land. The State House Anti-Corruption Unit is investigating several land fraud cases in the city and some arrests have been made.
Amongi said her office is starting a pilot programme in Lira, Mbarara and Tororo, to give tools to youth who are being trained on vocational skills.
With her initiative, she will support the youth in Lira city in doing carpentry, welding and mechanics with common user facilities.
Sharon Okello, the executive director of the Northern Uganda Women’s Network for Business Development spearheading the distribution of kits to the youth, said several youth are trained, but in the end, they fail to get tools and equipment to start work.
She said the youth who have benefited from the project will have to train others. Amongi received a warm welcome to Lira city by both the UPC and NRM women.
Lillian Ocare, the deputy town clerk, commended the minister for the good intervention. She said over 75% of the population are youth, with females being the most vulnerable.
She added that the city is doing well in implementing government programmes aimed at alleviating poverty. The City Resident Commissioner, Lawrence Egole, observed that poverty is still rampant because of the laziness of the victims.
He said the youth left their villages and moved to the city, where they are now engaged in criminal activities. Egole also reiterated the remarks by the town clerk that government interventions are doing well in Lira.
Jimmy Akena, the Lira city East MP, said his efforts to help boda boda riders acquire their own motorcycles directly from the banks, are being sabotaged.
Akena said he would like to know who is telling the youth not to service their loans, not knowing that it will destroy their future.
