Lira, Uganda – Hon. Auma Linda Agness, the Woman MP for Lira District, has extended an olive branch to Bakongo Boniface, a youth leader who was embroiled in an electoral petition against her after the 2021 general elections.
Speaking at a media briefing held at Grand Pacific Hotel on Friday, MP Auma announced her decision to forgive Bakongo and waive the 98 million shillings in court costs levied against him.
Bakongo had filed an election petition at the instigation of Florence Ongina Adupa, a UPC politician, challenging Auma’s victory.
The court dismissed the case, leaving Bakongo with crippling legal expenses.
The youth leader admitted he had been misled into filing the petition and later sought forgiveness from MP Auma through her aide, Jacob Ocen.
“I learned that Bakongo was very sick, and no one helped him. I am saying this not because of politics but because I believe in humanity,” Auma said.
She further cautioned the youth in Lango to avoid being used as political instruments in political conflicts, stressing the importance of unity and integrity in leadership.
Bakongo, the Chairperson of the Youth Council in Aromo Sub-County, expressed deep gratitude to Auma for her compassion.
He confessed that his actions were driven by political manipulation and vowed to avoid such pitfalls in the future.
Jacob Ocen, the NRM spokesperson for Lira District, praised MP Auma’s magnanimity, emphasizing that “Team Linda” harbored no resentment against Bakongo.
Bonny Omara, the Vice Chairman of Lira District, also commended Auma for her act of kindness and urged young people to resist being used by politicians for selfish motives.
Attempts to contact Florence Ongina Adupa for her comments were unsuccessful, as she did not respond to repeated calls from our reporter.
Auma urged fellow politicians in Lango sub-region to abandon politics of hatred and blackmail.
“Let’s focus on building our communities and supporting the youth rather than dividing them,” she said.
This act of forgiveness has been hailed as a demonstration of true leadership and has sparked calls for greater unity among political leaders in the Lango region.
