The Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, Anita Among, has publicly criticised the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, accusing her of using her ministerial position to undermine the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Among said she could no longer remain silent, arguing that the minister’s actions were harming the party and weakening its structures.
“I cannot remain silent when actions are harming our party. Amongi is using her ministerial position to fight the party instead of serving the people,” Among said, describing what she termed as deliberate efforts to undermine NRM cohesion.
She warned that the party would not tolerate leaders who use public office for personal political interests.
“We will not accept leaders who turn their offices into tools for personal political gain. This is not what NRM stands for,” Among said, calling on President Museveni to intervene and restore unity within the party.
Among also appealed to Museveni to halt what she described as sustained political attacks against the Minister of Health and Lira City Woman MP, Jane Ruth Aceng, saying such conflicts threatened party stability.
“I appeal to President Museveni to speak to his minister and put an end to these attacks against Jane Ruth Aceng. The party’s unity must come before individual ambitions,” she said.
Minister Betty Amongi, a senior Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) figure and Member of Parliament for Oyam South, declined to contest in Oyam and instead entered the Lira City political race, where she is challenging Aceng.
The move has heightened political competition in a sub-region long regarded as a UPC stronghold.
Lira District Chairperson Agnes Auma and Jane Ruth Aceng used the occasion to praise President Museveni for maintaining peace and advancing development in the area, citing increased government funding, the construction of Akii-Bua Stadium and improvements in urban infrastructure.
However, they urged the President to prioritise the creation of Erute District, strengthen health services and address gaps in secondary education.
Addressing residents, President Museveni emphasised the importance of peace, noting improvements in roads, electricity, sports facilities and other essential services.
He warned that no individual or group would be allowed to destabilise the country and encouraged residents to adopt commercial agriculture as a pathway to household wealth creation.
In the previous general elections, Museveni secured 69 per cent of the vote in Lira against 31 per cent for National Unity Platform leader Robert Kyagulanyi.
With activities in Lira concluded, the President has now campaigned in 146 districts and cities across the country.
