Lira City Woman Member of Parliament and Minister of Health, Jane Ruth Aceng, has officially launched her 2026 re-election campaign with a strong appeal for peaceful elections, unity, and reconciliation.
Addressing a crowd of supporters at a rally in Boke Ward, Lira City East Division on Wednesday, Aceng urged the electorate to reject divisive politics, accusing her main opponent, Betty Amongi, of fostering hostility and misleading voters.
Aceng emphasised that democracy thrives only when electoral processes are conducted peacefully and inclusively. She noted that political tensions in the constituency escalated after Amongi, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, shifted from Oyam South Constituency to contest in Lira City.
“Ever since my opponent came to Lira City, the political atmosphere has been marred by violence, abuse, and insults. I stand for peace, and I strongly believe that when I stand before the people of Lango with humility and tell them what we can do together, it is much better than telling lies, which has now become the mainstay of my opponent’s campaign,” said Aceng.
She reiterated that peace is not only a political value but also a divine principle.
“The Lord God loves peace, He is the Prince of Peace, and He is the one who chooses leaders. I will continue to call for peace because I believe in peace, love, selflessness, and commitment to the people. When leaders embrace violence, the people also learn violence,” she said.
Seeking a second consecutive term as Lira City Woman Representative, Aceng highlighted the progress made during her tenure and insisted that many ongoing development projects require continuity to reach completion. She cited the establishment of the Lira Industrial Park, rehabilitation of the airstrip, construction of the regional medical waste incinerator, the Akii Bua Olympic Stadium, and a planned cancer institute at Lira University Teaching Hospital as key initiatives currently in progress.
In a lighter moment that drew laughter from her supporters, Aceng said her opponent appeared overly preoccupied with her.
“One hundred per cent of what my opponent says is filled with my name. I feel so good about it because I am occupying rent-free space in her brain, and I am seated there very comfortably,” she said.
She further accused Amongi’s team of attempting to disrupt her events, including an incident where boda-boda riders allegedly stepped on her campaign T-shirts during her nomination day.
Aceng also argued that the Lango Sub-region has historically been dominated by the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), a party she claims has limited influence in securing government-backed development projects. Her appeal was echoed by Bishop Tom Ibrahim Okello of All Nations Church, Lira, who called on residents to support leaders who uphold moral and spiritual values, and praised Aceng’s message of healing in a region still recovering from years of conflict and marginalization.
Meanwhile, Betty Amongi has also launched her campaign for the same seat, marking the beginning of what promises to be a highly competitive race. Campaigning in Kakoge C Cell, Lira City West Division, Amongi highlighted her achievements during her tenure as Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, particularly road upgrades under the USMID programme and the establishment of the Lira Regional Zonal Land Office.
She pledged to prioritise wealth creation, vocational training for school dropouts, improved household incomes, access to affordable credit, and better city infrastructure, including garbage collection. Amongi cited her efforts in starting a vocational school in Ongica, which has already trained over 200 vulnerable girls and provided them with sewing machines, as evidence of her commitment to empowering communities.
Amongi’s move to Lira City marks the latest shift in her long parliamentary career. She first joined Parliament in 2001 as the Apac District Woman MP, retained the seat in 2006, and later transitioned to become the Oyam South County MP after the district’s creation in 2011. She successfully defended the Oyam South seat in 2016 and 2021.
The 2026 race for Lira City Woman MP now includes three candidates; incumbent Jane Ruth Aceng of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Betty Amongi of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), and independent candidate Patricia Aceng Ogwang, a journalist with Voice of Lango radio. As campaigns gain momentum, Lira City is set for one of its most closely watched and dynamic electoral contests in recent years.