Politics
UGANDA: “A POLITICAL STORM IS UNFOLDING IN NORTHERN UGANDA AS INCUMBENT MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT REMAINED VOICELESS
The road to Uganda’s political transitions and democratization is marked by torn. In August 2010, the Uganda August House hosted political Opposition parties, which played a crucial oversight role in business checks and balances, serving as yardsticks for accountability to donor communities.
GULU CITY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2025.
By Okumu Livingstone Langol, Our Correspondent
Business expert Wilfred Obali Jwee is concerned that the current Acholi Legislators hailing from the National Resistance Movement (NRM), remained silent. The 24 MPs failed to speak on the floor of parliament, except for Hon. Gilbert Olanya, and this silence has created an opportunity for road projects meant for the region to be snatched away.
My take is that the opposition parties in parliament, the likes of Hon.Okumu Ronald Regan, Hon. Odonga Otto, Hon. A.A Ongom, Hon. Okello Okello Livingstone, Hon. Olum Zackaria, Hon. Norbert Mao and Hon. Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo who used to raise issues that call for the accountability when they speak on the floor of Parliament, but what we have witnessed in the 11th Parliament where the majority of Acholi Legislators are from NRM ruling party, they disappointed us when they keep quiet both from Parliament and when they are for the coccus meeting, they keep mute.
“What we have learned is that the MPs from Acholi Sub Regions are being compromised because they do not speak on the floor of Parliament on issues that affect Northern Uganda. And this has given room for the vocal MPs from other regions to sabotage road projects meant for the Acholi Sub Region, which are being bought and taken to other regions. A case in point is Moroto Road. The government had prioritised the construction of Moroto in 2020. What were the national planning programs? Up to now, 2025, the government is still dragging their feet.” Wilfred Obali Jwee echoed.
The 24 MP from Acholi Sub Region directly elected never follow Presidential promises made by President Museveni, for example. President Museveni made a promise to Gulu University Specialised-320 teaching hospital, the Regional Heart Institute for Gulu University, which was not followed by the MPs from the Acholi Sub-Region.
Other stalled programs include Gulu University Sport football construction, Gulu University, in line with the Government of Uganda’s reached agreement, with interest in building a training sports ground at Gulu University through the National Council of Sports. This sports facility, worth UGX 13.5 billion, is expected to help African Cup of Nations Players who might, after landing in Gulu city through the Airfield could wish to stay and train in Gulu before going to Lira City, which has Akii-Bua Stadium.
Gulu University officials and Officers, including Surveyors, Engineers, and Environmental experts from the Ministry of Works and Transport, led by Emilu Martin, visited Gulu University on April 3, 2025, to conduct a fact-finding exercise on the availability of approximately 11 acres of land to support a multi-billion-dollar sports facility at Gulu University.
Emilu Martin and his team were welcomed by Prof. Davy David Okello Owiny, the Deputy Vice-Academic Affairs of Gulu University.
Prof. Owiny assured the team from the Ministry of Work and Transport that Gulu University has the required land to ensure that the facility is built immediately.
Okot Stephen Workorach, the Gulu University Estates Officer, led the team to where the land is and showed them the university master-plan that already had the provision of a stadium.
Uganda has joined other East African Countries in co-hosting the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 and is committing to renovate and building many sports facilities across the country.
This program should have been followed; if we have committed MPs, by now the sports stadium should be taking off, critics argued.
Argued that this gave me reason why he made a comeback to stand for Gulu City, Pece-Laroo, City Division. We have seen veterans’ former MPs bouncing back to stand in the Parliamentary election 2026. The likes of Judanga from West Nile, John Ken Lukyamuzi bounced back, nominated for Rubaga South MP, old guard, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, claimed to reclaim the Bukonzo West Seat
Hon. Gilbert Olanya, the incumbent MP for Kilak South is battling with Hon. Mike Lakony, the current Amuru District Chairman; both of them are running neck to neck (50%-50% each, because of the organised NRM strong hall backed by Hon. Anthony Akol, who is standing in a very volatile area of Kilak North, where Apaa land grabbing is a do or die for both of them.
Hon. Odonga Otto, the former Aruu North MP, is facing Christopher Komakech, the incumbent MP. Aruu North is another hot political bedrock. Hon Odonga intimated that he is 80% in the race for the Aruu North Parliamentary seat.
However, our Correspondent investigative finding indicated that both Hon. Odonga Otto and Hon. Komakech, the incumbent they are next in next in the race for Aruu North MP seat.
The Pader District Woman seat is do or die
The hottest Pader District Woman MP seat is now between the four candidates, C.D Lowila Oketta Ayot, Paska Aciro Menya, Vicky Norah Odong, and Dorine Awany.
However, the former Awere Sub County, now subdivided into Lunyiri Sub County, Puranga Sub County, and Awere Sub County, is still deciding on a swing zone.
Humiliation election
The many silent voices are being echoed across political divides in Acholi Sub Region since all the aspirant candidates campaigning in Acholi Sub Region are telling their voters to vote for President Museveni in fourth Parliamentary and Presidential Polls.
Tony Ociti, a renowned Accountant Kampala based, has sided with the disappointment, wondering what kind of election took place in the 2021 parliamentary and Presidential Polls. Where Acholi Sub Region have decided to vote for NRM candidates, in the end, we have witnessed ill-fitted MPs who were voted have been the 11th of August house
Tony Ociti, a wonder, went beyond, intimated that when you look at the current good road network built in Gulu City, it came with sweat from the sons and daughters who bled their sweat, when Northern Uganda had been marginalised for over four decades, starting from the advent of NRM in northern Uganda.
“Our MPs combined unity to talk on the floor of parliament, some of them were boxed on the corridor, the late Jacob Oulanyah Lanywen was boxed by Gen. David Tenyizuje, he Jacob Oulanyah also boxed Hon Okumu Reagan on the parliamentary corridor.
We queried here in Gulu City, because we were in the know that when Jacob Oulanyah was voted, there would be development, look at what is happening. I can never vote for Gunya Purudi Labeja, the aspiring Gulu City Mayor. Because on Easter Friday, Father Purudi was flayed of his shirt, the most prominent person in Acholi was forced to walk half naked, and his grandson told us that he dined with the regime which tortured us.” Ociti decried.
Pain, crying, disillusionment, rejection and the bitterness of Acholi heart await the traitor who was once a soul for the Acholi generation. Now hollows Satan.
