LIRA, UGANDA: The Mayor for Lira City East Division, Mr Okello Ayoo is jogging to replace the UPC party President Micheal Jimmy Akena Obote as Lira City East MP come 2026.
“Let me repeat, as long as MP Akena the UPC party president is contesting to be Presidental candidate in 2026, I will automatically replace him as the MP hopeful in Lira City East Division without fear or favour,” Mayor Ayoo said this during a press briefing held at Lira City Cathedral on Saturday afternoon.
According to Ayo, it is categorically clear that the UPC party is not only in the Lango sub-region but UPC is a historical party known countrywide. He said UPC Party led Uganda twice in the political history of this country, but this time UPC will lead Uganda for the third time whether you like it or not.
Reports DailyExpress could not independently verify suggested that Gender Minister Amongi Betty (currently MP for Oyam South) and wife to the UPC party president will be contesting in Lira City as a Woman MP in 2026, a position currently occupied by Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng.
However, it is not clear whether the Hon Minister is crossing to NRM to contest after recent rumours also suggested that she is vieing to contest as the National Vice Chairperson of NRM Northern Region to replace the late Jacob Oulanya former speaker of parliament.
“If Akena is to contest as president, I am contesting and winning the election as MP of Lira City East, because we are humbled and disciplined people in politics and therefore we shall not loose any further. If he is there, I will not complete with him but if he is going to contest for the presidency, I am the next replacement for him in Lira City East,” Mayor Ayoo was quoted in verbatim.
He added; “Wait and see how the politics will change in Lango because we have three good pillars; education, health among others.”
Mayor Ayoo George said this time round, UPC is not limited to the Lango region, but beyond Karuma, adding that whether you go to Bushenyi, Eastern, Western, Central and Northern Uganda as a whole, you will find UPC still alive and kicking.
Okello Ayoo is known by background as an educationalist and won his current Mayoral seat under the UPC party ticket in the just concluded elections of 2021-2026.
Efforts to talk to MP Akena Jimmy Michael who doubles as UPC party president to confirm if he will no longer contest in Lira City East Division were futile by press time since he was not picking up his repeated phone call.
Additionally, Minister Betty Amongi was also unable to confirm or deny if she will shift to Lira City to contest as a woman MP Lira City since she didn’t also could answer repeated calls when reached out.
Recently, Hon Sarah Awor Angweri, the councillor representing workers in the Lira City council, threatened to contest in either Lira City or Lira district as a woman MP on public demand.
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