Lira, Uganda | Patricia Aceng Ogwang, a former aspirant under the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), has announced she will contest as an independent candidate for the Lira City Woman MP seat in the upcoming 2026 general elections.
This decision follows the cancellation of her name from the NRM Yellow Book, a move she claims was carried out without her consent during the party’s Baraza held on May 6, 2025, at Tekulu Cell, Ipito Aweno Ward in Lira City West Division.
Aceng says she believes her exclusion was influenced by Lira City Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Lawrence Egole and the incumbent Woman MP, also Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero.
In a petition dated May 8, 2025, and received by the NRM Secretariat on May 9, Patricia Aceng Ogwang raised her concerns directly to the NRM National Chairperson, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
In the letter, she protested what she described as unfair deletion from the party structure and register in Lira City West Division.
She also addressed the letter to the NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi.
Aceng revealed that she was asked to consider contesting from a different area, with assurances that her name would be reinstated in the party register.
However, she declined the proposal, stating that she was informed the party already had its preferred candidate for the Lira City Woman MP seat.
She maintained that she could not abandon the constituents who had already expressed trust in her leadership.
Despite efforts to resolve the issue, including a visit to the NRM Secretariat on June 4, 2025, and a meeting with President Museveni at State House on June 27, 2025, Aceng says the directive to restore her name was never honored.
She noted that she made several attempts to engage the party leadership to no avail.
She explained that she considered leaving the party altogether but chose to remain because of her commitment to serve the people of Lira City.
While she no longer has the party’s endorsement, she reaffirmed her loyalty to the NRM and President Museveni, saying her desire to lead her people remains unchanged.
Aceng also pointed out that some members within the NRM who support opposition candidates were being protected, while loyal members like her were being sidelined.
She said Lira City needs a leader who can deliver tangible development, not one imposed by the party’s internal politics.
Both RCC Lawrence Egole and Minister Jane Ruth Aceng have previously denied any involvement in the removal of Patricia’s name from the NRM register.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, were unsuccessful as his phone was unavailable at the time of filing this story.
Patricia Aceng Ogwang’s declaration sets the stage for a tense political showdown in Lira City, with party divisions likely to influence the electoral landscape heading into 2026.
