Kampala, Uganda | President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed investigations into allegations of irregularities within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Lira City, including the arbitrary removal of party members from the register, as internal political tensions threaten to destabilise party unity in northern Uganda.
The directive followed a lengthy private meeting at State House, Entebbe, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, where President Museveni engaged two senior ministers—Dr Jane Ruth Aceng (Health) and Ms Betty Amongi (Gender, Labour and Social Development)—who are reportedly embroiled in a bitter rivalry ahead of the 2026 elections.
Dr Aceng is seeking re-election as the Lira City Woman MP, while Ms Amongi, currently MP for Oyam County South, is said to be planning a bid for the same seat.
The political contest between the two has sparked deep divisions within the party’s local structures.
According to sources who attended the meeting, the President expressed concern about reports that names of legitimate NRM supporters were being unlawfully deleted from the party register in Lira City, potentially disenfranchising them ahead of internal elections.
He ordered that a formal probe be launched into the matter.
The investigations will also examine allegations that politically influential individuals illegally acquired land belonging to the National Forestry Authority (NFA) in Elwa, Anai.
The land was reportedly meant for local environmental restoration through tree-planting initiatives.
However, local residents were denied access, allegedly tortured, and evicted, while the land was redistributed to powerful actors.
Additional concerns to be investigated include arbitrary arrests tied to land conflicts and the alleged unlawful expansion of airport land in Anai.
These issues, the President noted, must be addressed to restore public trust and accountability.
During the meeting, President Museveni is said to have called for calm between the two ministers and urged them to stop actions that risk dividing the population for political gain.
He reportedly told both leaders that as public officials, they should prioritise unity, humility, and service over personal ambition.
He also cautioned them to observe democratic principles within the NRM, stressing the importance of transparent internal party processes.
He warned that failure to conduct fair primaries was pushing many party members to contest as independents, undermining the strength and cohesion of the movement.
Ms Amongi, who confirmed the President’s emphasis on internal democracy, said after the meeting that the guidance had been received in good faith.
She stated that both she and Dr Aceng had been advised to refrain from divisive political conduct going forward and that she appreciated the President’s counsel.
In an effort to reinforce his message of unity, President Museveni reportedly gifted framed photographs to the ministers showing the 1967 signing of the East African Community Treaty by Uganda’s Milton Obote, Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta, and Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere.
He reminded the group of his own efforts to work across political lines with leaders from Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and Democratic Party (DP) to build a unified nation.
According to sources, the President spent considerable time discussing Uganda’s post-independence history and his vision for continental integration through the East African Federation and the African Union.
He urged the ministers to focus their leadership on advancing socio-economic transformation rather than political confrontation.
Some members of Amongi’s delegation reportedly raised complaints of political persecution by the Minister of Health.
They alleged that Dr. Aceng had become high-handed in her political dealings, particularly toward community members perceived to be on opposing sides.
President Museveni responded by urging all leaders present to cultivate basic leadership qualities such as empathy, respect for citizens, and constructive engagement.
He reportedly told them that leadership should not be used as a tool to suppress the powerless or silence dissent.
During the discussions, the president also issued a directive to the Ministry of Health to fully support Otuke District Council in the ongoing construction of Barjobi Health Centre IV.
The facility is currently being built by the UPDF Engineering Brigade, and the president is said to have underscored the importance of completing the project.
Meanwhile, Dr Aceng’s team, led by psychiatric nurse Patrick Okwir Jaramongi, reportedly defended her record and dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and baseless.
They maintained that the minister had been unfairly targeted by her rivals.
The meeting at State House reflected broader tensions within the NRM, particularly in Lira and parts of northern Uganda, where internal disputes are becoming more pronounced.
With the 2026 elections on the horizon, the President’s intervention highlights his concern over growing factionalism and the erosion of party structures.
Monitor
