Uganda: Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Dislikes Milton Odongo
In a public speech last Sunday, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the minister for Health, made no secret of his dislike for Lira resident district commissioner, Milton Odongo.
She used her speech at Lira Golf Course to nudge President Museveni to remove Odongo from the sub-region. Museveni was in Lira to meet NRM youth delegates from Lango sub-region following their botched meeting on November 8, 2020.
All was well until Aceng was invited to welcome the president to address the meeting. She seized the opportunity to express her discomfort, saying she had no hand in the cancellation of the earlier youth meeting with the president as some people alleged. Aceng told the president that instead of promoting NRM candidates, leaders in Lango like Odongo are pulling them down.
Odongo, according to unverified reports, allegedly wrote to the Office of the President recently accusing Sam Engola, the NRM regional vice-chairperson for Northern Uganda, and Aceng of promoting robbery in Lango. He reportedly accused the duo of being the source of illegal guns used by robbers in the sub-region.
The drama escalated when President Museveni took to the stage and said that managing people doesn’t require biology but, rather, ideology. George Abdul, a nominee for the Northern Uganda Youth parliamentary race, said it is true some party leaders in the region are supporting opposition members.
He, however, said the minister should have presented the issue to party leaders behind closed doors. But Boniface Okot, the Northern Regional Youth NRM parliamentary candidate, concurred with Aceng, arguing that the NRM party constitution, schedule (4) doesn’t allow party cadres to rally support against the official candidate.
During the meeting, President Museveni lectured the youth delegates on wealth creation. He also asked them to help government follow up, monitor and accordingly report to relevant authorities, any abuse of government programs and public funds by unscrupulous officials.
