LIRA CITY
Gender Minister Hon. Betty Amongi Akena has petitioned police after her campaign posters were allegedly defaced and set ablaze on the orders of senior local officials in Lira City.
According to reports, the operation began late Saturday night around 11:00pm and continued until 3:00am. Witnesses claimed the removal was directed by Lira City Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Lawrence Egole, Mayor Sam Atul, and Assistant RCC Boney Otucu. The group was reportedly accompanied by agents allied to Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, led by Ebuk Sam alias Sam Samu, along with security personnel and masked men.
The operatives allegedly collected and destroyed posters and banners worth Shs87 million before replacing them with Dr. Aceng’s campaign materials.
Sources further alleged that on Wednesday, August 13, the group held a closed-door meeting where Amongi was warned that her posters would be removed ahead of President Museveni’s visit to Lira City.
“The District Police Commander told Minister Amongi that the RCC had ordered the removal of her campaign materials in preparation for the President’s visit,” a source said.
UPC supporters in Lira condemned the move, describing it as a deliberate move to portray Dr. Aceng as more politically influential in the region. Both ministers are eyeing the Lira City Woman MP seat, a race already marked by sharp rivalry.
President Museveni is today (August 17) in Lira District to meet leaders from the Lango sub-region over compensation for families that lost cattle during the LRA insurgency.
Speaking to reporters, UPC President Hon. James Jimmy Akena Obote condemned what he called “primitive politics,” saying focus had shifted from resolving the long-standing cattle compensation issue to petty poster wars.
“The real issue here is how do we restore the livelihoods of our people. Instead, we are being reduced to fighting posters. If this is the direction government supporters want to take, I will show them what real politics is; politics of substance, policy, and development,” Akena said.
He warned against intimidation ahead of the 2026 elections, stressing that UPC would remain focused on its vision.
“Whether you remove our posters, intimidate supporters, or deploy security forces to try to stop us, this idea will not be stopped,” he vowed.
Minister Amongi said she had gathered substantial evidence, including video footage and witness testimonies, and had already notified the Vice President and Minister for the Presidency. She pledged to pursue the matter “legally, administratively, and politically.”
This is not the first attempt to sabotage her campaign. Last Thursday, a daytime poster removal on Obote Avenue was thwarted by vendors and boda boda riders, forcing operatives to switch to night operations.
There are also claims of attempts to bribe Amongi’s supporters, especially shop owners and motorcyclists carrying her portable banners, with Shs50,000 offers to defect to Dr. Aceng’s camp, a move that has reportedly failed, as her support base in the city continues to grow.
