Lira, Uganda | Senior opposition figures in Lira City have intensified criticism of Gender Minister Betty Amongi, accusing her of misrepresenting the legacy of the late former president Apollo Milton Obote and deepening divisions within the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party and the wider Lango subregion.
Addressing the press on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Gracious Palace Hotel in Lira City, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Lira District Chairperson, Joel Okao Tema, argued that Amongi should not be regarded as the new face of the Obote family.
He claimed instead that she embodied a deeper problem both within the Obote family legacy and inside UPC.
Okao Tema alleged that while Amongi possessed the political skill to associate herself with Obote’s family and project herself as its successor, that image was misleading.
He further claimed that confusion allegedly created within the Obote family and UPC had spilled over into the broader Lango subregion, undermining collective regional interests.
He urged the people of Lango to critically assess her leadership and reject what he described as politics driven by personal ambition rather than the future of the region.
Patrick Okwir Jaramogi, a UPC-leaning political figure, also weighed in, calling for matters concerning UPC and the Obote family to be handled with deep respect.
He said that although he was not born into the Obote family, he holds it in high regard as a benchmark for leadership and the historical values of UPC.
Okwir warned that anyone who disrespects or abuses the Obote family automatically becomes his enemy, arguing that the family should remain open to the people of Lango as a reference point for leadership values and grassroots political nurturing.
Against this background, Okwir criticised Amongi, describing it as unfortunate that someone not born into UPC continues to wear the party’s red colours, benefit politically from the party, and present herself as its candidate.
He drew a sharp distinction between a politician and a leader, portraying Amongi as driven by self-interest while describing Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, her rival for Lira City Woman Member of Parliament under NRM, as a leader who provides direction.
Okwir further accused Amongi of disrespecting the Obote family, alleging that she had abused Mama Miria Obote while she is still alive.
He described such conduct as shameful and warned that individuals with ill intentions are now disguising themselves in UPC colours.
He appealed to Amongi to respect the people of Lango and Lira City, saying that while the community wished her well, it would not entrust the leadership of Lira City to her, insisting it should remain in what he termed “safe hands” under Dr. Aceng.
Jimmy Awany Cingmalo, a UPC member and independent political actor for Lira City West Division Member of Parliament, blamed Amongi for what he described as ongoing confusion within UPC.
He alleged that in 2014, a UPC delegation, including party president Jimmy Akena, Amongi, and other officials, met President Museveni and entered into a verbal cooperation agreement between UPC and the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Cingmalo claimed the arrangement failed to benefit ordinary UPC supporters, arguing that it did not result in scholarships or jobs for party members.
Instead, he alleged that only a few individuals benefited, pointing to Amongi’s appointment as a cabinet minister, a position she continues to hold.
He argued that politics should not be about enriching a few families at the expense of the wider community and warned against allowing the future of Lango and UPC to be controlled by what he described as a small group of beneficiaries.
He controversially referred to Amongi as “the snake in the house of Obote,” claiming that even members of the Obote family had now acknowledged his long-held warnings.
The political dispute unfolds against the backdrop of a reported family rift within the Obote household.
In late December 2025, the Daily Monitor reported that Tony Akaki, the eldest son and heir of former president Milton Obote, ordered Amongi to vacate all of the late president’s homes.
Akaki accused Amongi of using Obote’s residence in Lira City to campaign for President Museveni and the ruling NRM, actions he said were inconsistent with the principles of UPC.
He stated that the decision was made with the consent of his brothers and reflected the family’s growing discomfort with her political alignment.
Amongi, who is married to Akena, reportedly dismissed the directive, insisting she would not vacate the residences as long as their relationship remained intact.
The dispute comes as Amongi prepares to contest for the Lira City Woman Member of Parliament seat in the 2026 general elections, where she faces stiff competition, including from Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng.
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