UGANDA: VOTES OF NO CONFIDENCE KICKED OUT ALL DISTRICT CHAIRMAN IN ACHOLI SUB REGION

8 District Chairman was voted out in the last January 15, 2026 general election from Acholi Sub Region, is a strong indication we need change in leadership and accountability.

Two brothers got retirement, one honorably former Chief Justice Owiny Dollo Chigamoi awarded retirement after serving and clocking 70 years as Uganda’s highest paid. While Ojok Opiyo Aleo, got retired on public demand.

Another nasty seen in Acholi Sub Region why opposition always voted in. On 16 August 1996, four LRA suspected collaborators were turned over to a mob by UPDF personnel in Gulu town and then beaten to death. The incident is reported to have taken place in the presence of two senior UPDF officers (4th Division Commander Col. James Kazini and his deputy, Major Sula Ssemakula). (The August 20 – 22 edition of The Crusader newspaper provided a reporter’s detailed eyewitness account which asserted that the suspects were turned over to mobs at two different times and in two different neighborhoods of Gulu town.)

GULU CITY-MONDAY JANUARY 25.

By Okumu Livingstone Langol, Our Correspondent

For a long time, Acholi community have sent opposition leaders to represent their interest in the August house since 1989 when Uganda Oligarchy President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni opened political space under National Resistance Council Representatives under a single party system.

Tomorrow Gulu City is going to votes for the City Mayor for Laroo-Pece Divion, Otim Geoffery, a PHD holder, the incumbent Mayor of Gulu City East against two contestant Aber Gifter the incumbent Councilor of Laroo.

Stephen Ojok, a boda boda rider in Gulu City says, Gulu City cannot send Aber Gifter who failed to articulate herself when President Museveni was in the rally in Gulu City.

“How can we elect person who does not know English. What language is she going to express herself outside Uganda, beside that, Aber cannot measure to the leave of Otim and Abonga, the former Mayor of Laroo Division.”

Adds, we believe that when Otim is elected, he will used his position as Gulu City Mayo to lobby project that will benefit Youths, Ojok argued.

Coocere, a business man in Gulu City is of the view that Aber, being a councilor, used her position to promote sex workers in Gulu City, when elected what business will she do, above all she is not a business lady.

Gulu City is not ready to send prostitute as Gulu City mayor, those Aber is known as sex worker within the NRM hierarchy, all the vehicle she is having it as result servicing NRM big short, no wonder she is being sponsored, source who asked not to be named mooted.

 New elected Acholi MPs to have joined Acholi District Council meeting  

Acholi community has spoken their mind during just concluded District Local Government election on January 22, 2026. To voted all 8 District Chairman of Local Government Councilor. This based on the failure to stand with Acholi community when the neighboring districts attacked Acholi Sub Region.

Ojok Opiyo Aleo, Agago District Chairman, suffered because of the Karamojong cattle raid in East Acholi, although most of the time when cattle rustlers raided Agago District, he perused them up the Karamoja Sub Region.

Other reason why they were voted out, is the Balaalo land grabbing. When Aceng Land was grabbed by Okello Adwinya, who is believed to the front runner for the state house, Okello Duoglas Peter Okao,he colluded, even when Gen. Charles Otema, offered to pay for the legal fees.

“Binya Aceng land is one of endowed minerals belt that stressed from Aruu fall mountainous rang to Awere Sub County, the people who is now using Aceng land, which about 21 square kilometers. Are Lapir Goerge Aligez and Cos.

Why Acholi always voted for the opposition  

The Government arrested eighteen notable northerners (and reportedly several hundred others) on charges of treason. A number of the eighteen had their limbs broken and were otherwise severely mistreated.

At the end of up to two years’ detention, they were all acquitted and many received compensation for these baseless arrests. (Many of the 18 notables were represented by attorney Hon. Alfonse Owiny Dollo, currently Minister of State for the North and an elected Member of Parliament for Agago County, Kitgum.

Mr. Owiny Dollo had also participated in the drafting of the June 1988 peace agreement between the Government of Uganda and the UPDA.) It appears that at least some of the arrests were reprisals against their victims for denunciation of local government corruption (for example in connection with the finances of the Kitgum Senior Secondary School). They also seemed, collectively, an attempt by the government to project political power in the north.

In 1989, election under the adult surface Electoral College system NRC, where voters line up to elect their candidates. In west Acholi, Eng. Anthony Oryang was elected to represent Gulu Municipality, A.A Ongom was elected to represent Omoro County, James Abola was elected to represent Aswa County, Openy was elected to represent Kilak County and Olum Zackariya was elected to represent Nwoya County.

While in east Acholi, Ambrose Okullu, was elected to represent Agago District, Prof. Bwongamoi was elected to represent Aruu County, Amb. Okello was elected to represent Lamwo County, Akwero Odwong was elected to Represent Kitgum Woman MP, and Sr. Oker was elected to represent Gulu Woman MP as the representative voice.

Later, when Ambrose Okullo fled the country in 1991 as he alluded the then Operation Faguia North led by David Tenyezunya, which arrested 19 leaders from Acholi and Lango Sub Region where the likes of Omara Atubu, the then State Minister for Defense, the MP for Otuke County in Lango Sub Region. Later when Dr. Ambrose went into political asylum in the United State of America, Peter Okwera was elected MP for Agago County, and when Prof. Bwongamoi passed on, Kidega Lak was elected MP for Aruu County, and Prof. Jack Nyeko Penmogi was elected in the bye election when Openy passed on.

Also, in 1994 when Uganda was yearning for the rule of law, there were new demands from the donor’s community, a call for political transformation, and therefore under Justice Odoki came agitation for constitutional reform where Delegate Conference Members were elected. And also, Opposition CA was elected to represent the view of the people.

Another nasty seen in Gulu Twon was seen on 16 August 1996, four LRA suspected collaborators were turned over to a mob by UPDF personnel in Gulu town and then beaten to death. The incident is reported to have taken place in the presence of two senior UPDF officers.

(4th Division Commander Col. James Kazini and his deputy, Major Sula Ssemakula). (The August 20 – 22 edition of The Crusader newspaper provided a reporter’s detailed eyewitness account which asserted that the suspects were turned over to mobs at two different times and in two different neighborhoods of Gulu town.)

Among the CA Delegates elected from Acholi Sub Region were, Olum Zackariya representative of Nwoya District in the CA, Akech Betty Okullo was elected to represent Gulu Woman as CA Delegate, Atare was elected to represent Kilak County, Owor was elected to represent Aswa County, Okwonga Latigo was elected CA Delegate to represent Omoro County.

In east Acholi, Okenya Atwoma was elected to represent Chaw County, Langoya Themoty was elected to represent Lamwo County, and Alfonse Owiny Dollo Chigamoi was elected to represent the Agago County and Akwero Odwong was elected to represent Kitgum Woman CA Delegate.

After the Amalgamate of 1995 constitutions, there was also a new demand to open political space, but the new constitution was very clear that after five years, Ugandans will decide whether the political party democracy would be allowed through referendum which was held in the year 2000. But multi-party democracy was rejected.

However, in the 5^th Parliament, Acholi community sent new crops of leaders, among those MPs who were elected in 1996, were Norbert Mao, elected the MP for Gulu Municipality, Okumu Roland Reagan was elected as the MP for Aswa County, Olum Zakariya maintain his seat as the MP for Nwoya County, A.A Ongom maintain his seat as the MP for Omoro County and Mike Ocula was elected as the new . Jack Penmogi, Betty Akech Okullo was elected to represent Gulu Woman MP, while Owor was appointed by President Museveni as the Electoral Commissioner, but later resign.

In 2021, when Dr. Kizza Besigye, the former President Museveni personal medical doctor made a daring move to break away from the National Resistance Movement party, by coming out with the Reform Agenda political pressure group.

Acholi Sub Region still maintained their hardliner agitation, Norbert Mao was elected the MP for Gulu Municipality, Omoro County showed a new Uganda People Congress party, Jacob Oulanyah was elected as the new Omoro County. Okumu Reagan retained the Aswa County MP seat, Olum Zackarya still elected as the MP for Nwoya, and Betty Akech also elected the MP for Gulu Woman.

In East Acholi, Agago County elected Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo, Atiya was elected the MP for Lamwo County, Odonga Otto was elected the MP for Aruu County, and Beatrice Anywar was elected the Woman MP for Kitgum District.

In years 2006, there was a change of leadership that swept because of political titanic which made fundamental change, because of new formation of Forum for Democratic Change FDC political party bandwagon, those who stood in the FDC party ticket, the likes of Penytoo, found themselves elected, Betty Aol Ocan became the Woman MP for Gulu District up to date. Tolit Akecha, was elected the Omoro County MP, replacing Jacob Oulanyah who later bunched back in the 2011 election.

Since, 2011-2026 election Acholi Sub Region has been sending a mix of political interest based on red flag demand. However, in the 11^th parliament, we have seen the worst weak Legislatives representative ever since. Most of the MPs who were elected on NRM party tickets became ineffective. Right from Gulu Mayor. Alfred Okwonga, failed his role as an accountable leader.

Gulu City because a dumping political pit, where the City Town Clerk became demigod, dismisses the head of department, a case in point. Alfred Okwonga sent of the senior City planner on three forced leave without pay, and when the said Gulu City Planner, resumed his duty, he was served with demotion

Now Acholi Sub Region has spoken, with voting new crops of leadership, from Omoro District, Okot Andrew Obibii, elected new District Chairman, Gulu City, elected Achire Julius Labeja Gunya, new Gulu City mayor, Odongkara Christopher, elected Amuru District Chairman, Obol Simple man Justin, Gulu District Chairman, Oryema Patrick Okello, Nwoya District Chairman, Tolit tony Blair, Kitgum District Chairman, Sistor Oyat , Lamwo District Chairman, Otto Wilson Agago District Chairman, and Akena Alfred, the new Pader District Chairman