UGANDA: WARLORDS STILL CONTROL AND MANIPULATING ACHOLI SUB REGION VOTING PATTERNS

Balaalo migrants in Nwoya District, Ministers who own big farms including Kenyan President William Ruto’s sister, one of the investors in Nwoya District, will call the shot in voting patterns come Feb 13, 2026 presidential and parliamentary polls.

The government is not formed from Gulu City, but from Kampala, if really Norbert Ma mean well for Acholi community, he would have supported many sons and daughters with scholarship. Let him produce any none he has supported, really Okumu Ronald Regan can make an appeal

GULU CITY – FRIDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2025.

By Okumu Livingstone Langol Our Correspondent

Talks in media corridors contemplated that voting patterns in Acholi Sub Region are being controlled by Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Generals and former opposition figures in Acholi Sub Region mostly those who have crossed and joined President Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) ruling regime, despite the backlog of unfinished Northern Uganda civil strife.

Charles Akena, the Coordinator Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC), the umbrella platform of the Press association for Acholi Sub Region, on Thursday November 13, 2025, in tete-ate  with a couple of journalists at his office, the NUMEC office in Gulu City, argued that the most interesting political scene development in Acholi Sub Region to be watch are in Nwoya District, the influence of big investors that will shift the voting towards partners toward  the NRM ruling party in the fourth Parliamentary and Presidential election

“I know you may not be aware that the Awany family still rheostat candidates for Nwoya District Woman MP, Christine Lanyero, Tony Awany, and for Nwoya West County MP, and Okello Oryema, the candidate for Nwoya District Local Government Chairman, will be supported by investors who hold 80 percent of Nwoya’s GDP per capita in Nwoya District

In Nwoya District there are big investors in the name of Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi, the former Minister for Local Government, former UPDF Chief of Defence Forces Wilson Mbadi, Gen. Salim Saleh, President Museveni’s younger brother, and Lt. Gen. Charles Otema Awany and others. Also, the issue of NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong, who hails from Nwoya, is a sure deal for NRM candidates, they will make sure that NRM candidates will go through crooks come rain or sunshine.”

Other source who asked not to be named during tete-ate also added that Another interesting phenomena during the fourth coming election which used to be was the ferrying of voters from the Alur from West Nile, especially from Pakwach District neighboring Nwoya District from the western side, are always ferried to Nwoya District to vote for the NRM candidates, and later they are taken back to vote in Pakwach District where they have their polling stations too.

The Monitor correspondent in Gulu City, James Owich, added his voice supporting the issue of investors’ control. That is why Zerubbabel Abuka Omin Okumu, the most senior political think tank in Acholi, always calls Richard Todwong “the MP of the Wildlife.” Because in 2006 when Todwong stood for MP of Nwoya County, he ferried the Joman community from Pakwach County, Nebbi District, who voted for him. To his dismay, even if Abuka taunted Todwong, he just shrugged off.

The aspirant candidates for Nwoya West County are Tony Awany NRM candidate, Oola Samuel FDC candidate, Opiyo Denis DP candidate, Judith Peace Acan Independent candidate, Apili Joyce UPC candidate, Laker Vicky Independent candidate. Nwoya East MP candidates Okello Geoffrey Charles.

Gulu City nominated aspirant candidates: Norbert Mao for Pece-Laroo City Division is facing youthful Independent candidate Caesar Lubangakene, who controls the majority vote in Gulu East City Division. Rev. Fr. Charles Onen is another most-feared candidate. On Friday November 7, 2025, he pitched camp in Gulu City, Pece-Laroo Division, for the third time, just monitoring how Norbert Mao’s popularity stands, Akena observed.

However, the influence of UPDF General Charles Otema Awany is forcefully behind Norbert Mao. Gen. Otema Awany is wooing many nominated candidates to abandon contesting with Norbert Mao. Citing the meeting held in Gulu UPDF 4th Division when the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs asked President Museveni that he wanted to stand as MP for Gulu City Division. Gen. Otema Awany is telling those MP candidates that President Museveni wants Mao to form a new government in the next forthcoming election.

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“Anonymous sources disclosed that President Museveni told Norbert Mao that he is free to stand as an MP, only if Mao is not going to solicit votes as a Democratic Party (DP) candidate, and he will not move with other DP aspirants. Conditions which Norbert Mao is not abiding with. Also Gen. Otema Awany is telling other independent MP candidates that Museveni wants in his new government to put Acholi in key positions since Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo Chigamoi and Lt. Gen. Paul Lokech and Jacob Oulanyah as replacement.”

Our correspondent, who is part of NUMEC media and a critic, wondered about the character of President Museveni, citing that since the Nairobi 1985 peace talks and the failed Juba peace talks in 2006, why he cannot elevate Richard Todwong and Norbert Mao, what happened to the MoU signed between DP headed by Norbert Mao. Why seek new crops of Acholi leaders? He argued that both political generals of the former opposition DP, Norbert Mao, and President Museveni are birds of the same feather. Mao is not trusted. Some school of thought insinuated that when the duo had a meeting with the late Lt. Gen. Paul Lokech and the former Speaker of the 11th Parliament, it was the same Norbert Mao who sold them out. .

“What happened nobody knows, because both Paul Lokech and Jacob Oulanyah are deceased. In 1970, when Brigadier Pierino Okoya was killed, later Uganda dictator Idi Amin said nobody knew who killed Brigadier Okoya, because it was only him who could tell who killed him.”

In Gulu West City Division, Bardege-Layibi, counter accusations are sweeping left and right. The influence of UPDF generals is still foundational. There is counter political power being seen. When Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the allegation which is trending is that the area MP for Bardege-Layibi met President Museveni and told him those generals were treading in a no-go zone. The failed Presidential Executive Order No. 2 is being undermined by Gen. Otema Awany and the Gulu UPDF 4th Division commander who are backing Balaalo.

Sources hinted that the allegation made President Museveni mad; he ordered for the stripping of the current commander of the UPDF 4th Infantry Division based in Gulu, Major General Felix Busizoor, and his retirement from service. The action was only stayed when family members intervened to cool the situation. For Gen. Otema Awany, it was alleged the President instituted two commissions of inquiry.

Our correspondent attempted to verify but was unsuccessful with UPDF generals. However, when contacted, MPs close to Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, Anthony Akol (MP for Kilak North), neither denied nor confirmed the alleged betrayal.

However, both Akol Anthony and Mike Lakony, the aspirant MP for Kilak South, confirmed that they held a meeting with Speaker Anita Amongi. During the meeting, they asked her who she was going to support in Acholi Sub Region.

Anita Amongi said she was going to support Fr. Onen, but Martin Ojara told her that she had to support the official NRM candidate for Gulu East City Division, Tony Kitara. “Anita Amongi also nodded in affirmative.” So, we all will support Tony Kitara.

Candidates for Gulu East City Division: Lyandro Komakech DP candidate, Martin Ojara Mapenduzi NRM candidate, Gulu East, Norbert Mao, Fr. Charles Onen, Caesar Lubangakene Independent candidate, Tony Kitara NRM candidate, Simon Opoka UPC candidate, Judith Obina Okumu Independent candidate, Alima Joyce Reni NRM candidate, Betty Aol Ocan FDC candidate and Anyadwee Laker UPC candidate.

Voters in Gulu City are divided on why Norbert Mao made a U-turn in politics. Elderly people who historically struggled and supported Mao for making a daring attempt to stand for Acholi as a lone voice say Mao will articulate the issues affecting Acholi Sub Region. Those categories comprise former Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) and former Uganda Army. But among hardened conservative categories, Mao is seen as a self-seeker hiding behind President Museveni’s bandwagon.

From Mukungo Caro, one of the popular elite evening joints, the majority say Norbert Mao failed politically. Any reasonable and sound-minded person will never ask the Acholi community to vote for President Museveni amidst the slaughter caused by Museveni’s regime.
“How can we see President Museveni eye to eye? Is there truth-telling? Is there any reconciliation between Museveni’s National Resistance Army (NRA), turned UPDF, who caused human suffering in Northern Uganda, where over a million people are not accounted for? It is only wrong that 70 percent of the population in Acholi Sub Region were born in Internal Displaced People Camps and they don’t have the history of what happened.”

Soon t be read, Omoro, Amuru, Pader Districts aspirants MP candidates