Lira, Uganda | Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has pledged to present Lango’s major development concerns to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, assuring leaders that government will address critical issues affecting the sub-region, including roads, drought, Akii-Bua Stadium, Anai International Airport and the Lango Cultural Palace.
Representing President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the thanksgiving ceremony of Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Sam Engola at Olilo Primary School in Itek Sub-county, Lira District, on Saturday, July 18, Nabbanja delivered the President’s contribution of Shs20 million towards the function. She said all concerns raised by Lango leaders would be forwarded to the president for consideration. She revealed that the government had released Shs1 billion to CMD Investment Ltd for construction of the Lango Palace, but the contract was cancelled after the company was found to be fake. The contractor was ordered to refund Shs1.3 billion, including additional costs, while the UPDF Engineering Brigade will take over the palace construction works. Nabbanja also thanked Engola for his appointment as minister in her office and read President Museveni’s speech during the ceremony.
Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Sam Engola, who is also the Erute South County MP, thanked President Museveni for appointing him to Cabinet, saying the decision demonstrated recognition of Lango’s loyalty and contribution to national development. Speaking during his thanksgiving ceremony, Engola pledged to faithfully implement the NRM manifesto and thanked voters for electing him with 87.7% of the vote. He urged leaders and citizens to put politics aside and focus on fighting poverty through government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, and Operation Wealth Creation.
Engola highlighted key government investments in Lango, including Akii-Bua Stadium and the upgrading of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, while appealing to the Prime Minister to convey several requests to President Museveni. These include the tarmacking of Aboke–Bobi Road and Dokolo–Ocero–Namasale Road, operationalisation of the proposed Lira Industrial Park, expansion of presidential skilling hubs, fulfilment of the pledge to tarmac roads around Lira University, provision of a bus for Lango Province Football Club and completion of the Lango Palace. He also pledged to remove old iron sheets from Olilo Primary School and provide uniforms for all pupils while asking for prayers and wisdom to serve Ugandans faithfully.
Won-Nyaci me Lango, His Highness Eng. Dr. Moses Michael Odongo Okune appealed to the government to urgently intervene in the worsening food crisis caused by drought, saying many households across Lango are facing famine. He requested relief support through the Office of the Prime Minister. He also said the cattle restocking programme is ongoing but expressed concern over reports of possible mismanagement by some individuals, adding that he is yet to verify the claims. He emphasised that restocking funds should reach the intended beneficiaries.
Odongo Okune further questioned the removal of the Law Development Centre from Lira, saying the institution had supported the training of lawyers in the region. He said the cultural institution is ready to mediate the dispute involving landowners, Lira City Council and the Civil Aviation Authority over land for Anai International Airport, but appealed to government not to allow the project to be relocated outside Lango. He also asked the Prime Minister to intervene and ensure the stalled Lango Palace construction resumes.
NRM National Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda Denis Hamson Obua praised Lango, Acholi, and West Nile for giving the NRM its strongest support during the 2026 General Election. He noted that Lira District delivered 55,982 votes, representing 82.36%, for President Museveni. Obua thanked the President for appointing 16 ministers from Northern Uganda, congratulated Engola upon his thanksgiving and said the new government term would focus on service delivery and a tougher fight against corruption, starting within the ruling party before extending to government.
State Minister for ICT and National Guidance Alioni Yorke Odria pledged to donate 268 textbooks covering the four core primary subjects to 67 primary schools in Erute South Constituency within two weeks. He urged citizens to judge leaders based on service delivery and performance ahead of the 2031 elections.
Lango Parliamentary Group Chairperson Patrick Ogwang Obura appealed to Prime Minister Nabbanja to prioritise Lango’s development needs, including improvement of roads, construction of access roads to Akii-Bua Stadium and increasing the national cattle restocking fund from Shs80 billion to Shs100 billion to support more farmers.