Lira, Uganda – A heated press briefing held today, Thursday, April 24, at the Junior Quarters office of Lira City Woman Member of Parliament, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero (Minister of Health) saw her political team speak out strongly against what they termed as “baseless and malicious propaganda” aimed at derailing her ongoing community programs.
Zena Opolot, political assistant to Dr. Aceng dismissed widespread rumours, suggesting the Minister was distributing 20-litre jerry cans filled with cooking oil to residents.
She clarified that Dr. Aceng’s latest initiative involves distributing jerry cans for water collection, not oil, and emphasized that these are brand new jerry cans manufactured by Mukwano Industries in Kampala, not leftover Ministry of Health stock from the COVID-19 era.
Opolot explained that those spreading the false information were doing so because they felt threatened by Dr. Aceng’s impactful work.
She said this was the first time in Lira City that a leader was distributing jerry cans for clean water access, and because the initiative was both new and effective, some political opponents were reacting with fear and confusion.
She emphasized that Dr. Aceng’s aim is to support clean water collection.
She confirmed that the jerry cans would be branded with Dr. Aceng’s image would be distributed outside the city centre, targeting under-served areas in both Lira City East and West Divisions.
Opolot highlighted the significant development achievements under Dr. Aceng’s leadership since 2021, revealing that 85% of her manifesto had been accomplished.
She noted that only 15% remained, with the most ambitious goal being the upgrading of Lira Regional Referral Hospital to a National Referral Hospital, comparable to Mulago.
She added that Dr. Aceng had successfully lobbied for and overseen improvements at Lira Hospital — including the introduction of CT scan machines and kidney dialysis services — which had begun attracting patients from distant areas such as Kasese and Mbarara.
She acknowledged that while these were government programs, it required a strong, well-connected leader to bring them to Lira.
Opolot took the opportunity to outline other major achievements under Aceng’s tenure:
1. Construction of over 20 spring wells across Lira City.
2. Repair of over 150 boreholes.
3. Distribution of hoes and seeds to households outside the city (2 hoes and 5kg of seeds per household).
4. Support to over 785 community groups through the Constituency Development Fund.
5. Educational support for students and job placements for youth.
6. Partnerships with international donors resulting in developments like the construction of facilities at Alwak Primary School
She questioned the contributions of other leaders in top government positions, particularly in the Ministry of Gender, saying their roles had not translated into direct benefits for Lango sub-region residents — including Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), children, and women, whom Dr. Aceng has consistently assisted.
She remarked that while some had begun copying Dr. Aceng’s hoe distribution program, they lacked her vision and connections.
Jacob Ocen, NRM spokesperson for Lira District, also addressed the press conference and expressed his dismay over what he described as “falsehoods and sabotage” aimed at Dr. Aceng.
He stated that the NRM Constitution empowered him to defend the party’s flagbearers and clarified that the rumours about cooking oil distribution were false.
He said there were no such plans and that Dr. Aceng communicates her activities through official channels, adding that she deeply valued the residents of Lira City.
Ocen emphasized that Dr. Aceng’s programs were primarily health-focused, noting that a healthy population was a prerequisite for progress in sectors like trade, farming, and education.
He reiterated that the jerry can distribution was meant to aid water collection from boreholes and springs, replacing unsuitable containers like buckets, basins, and saucepans — items not recommended for hygienic water collection and storage.
He stated that every household — including widows, single men, and married women — would benefit from the initiative.
Ocen argued that such impactful programs often angered Dr. Aceng’s political rivals, whom he accused of introducing a toxic style of politics to Lira City.
He added that competing against Dr. Aceng is difficult because her development record is solid and well-known.
He warned that people who will vote unwisely would bear the consequences and cautioned those being manipulated by her political opponents to take politics seriously.
Both Opolot and Ocen concluded the briefing by calling for political engagement based on truth, maturity, wisdom, and love rather than deception and jealousy.
They emphasized that Dr. Aceng remained committed to completing her development agenda and encouraged residents not to be misled by false propaganda, asserting that her work and results spoke for themselves.
