Acholi MPs on the spot for accepting bribe from Museveni to give away land to govt

By Owen Odong

Gulu, (UG):- Acholi activists are strongly condemning their Members of Parliament for allegedly accepting bribes from the government in exchange for giving away Acholi land for personal benefits best known to them.

This serious accusation comes after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni met with opposition leaders from Acholi to tackle poverty and drive socio-economic transformation in the region.

Rwot Onen Acana II expressed deep concerns over the lingering effects of the two-decade-long insurgency, which displaced many communities into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. He noted that the prolonged displacement has left the Acholi people dependent on handouts, and now they face the alarming trend of families selling their ancestral land, which is a vital part of their cultural heritage.

Philip Polly Okin Ojara, the Member of Parliament for Chua West County (Kitgum) in the Acholi sub-region, said as the opposition they have presented an initiative to the president to help in addressing the region’s pressing issues. These issues include poverty, Karamoja problems, and land disputes, which have been affecting the people of Acholi.

Ojara emphasized that the initiative aims to alleviate the suffering of the Acholi people. However, rumors have been circulating that the leaders plan to sell the land belonging to the people of Acholi.

The MP has, however, strongly denied these allegations, stating that as leaders, they cannot betray the trust of their people.

Activist Okello Partick Onguti claims that the MP’s actions are exacerbating poverty in the region, prioritizing personal interests over community needs.

“Instead of joining the fight against poverty in Acholi, and advocating for cattle compensation for our people, our leaders are busy cracking deals on how to give away our ancestral land to the government, thereby betraying the trust and interests of the Acholi community.”

Okello urged the opposition who took money from the government to put their dealings with the president on hold, emphasizing that they don’t speak for the people of Acholi they should come to the people of Acholi.

Christopher Oruka, another activist says leaders in Acholi don’t prioritize their voters’ concerns, acting as if they have the authority to speak on behalf of the people without their input.

“This is not the time to sleep, people of Acholi! We need to rise up and defend our ancestral land, which is the very fabric of our culture and identity. Our leaders have already failed us, prioritizing personal interests over the welfare of our community”.

He appealed to cultural leaders to help in defending Acholi land and encouraged leaders to come together to strengthen the region.

Francis Okello, one of the residents of Gulu City suggests that organizing a meeting with all leaders in Acholi would help to reduce the rate of division among the people of Acholi. He added that leaders do not look at the people as voters but rather abandon them to fight issues of land wrangling as if they are not there.

Komakech Steven, a doctor in the Acholi sub-region, appealed to the local community not to put much interest in leaders but to work together to defend what belongs to them without fear. “It’s frustrating when leaders make promises during elections but fail to deliver once they’re in office.

This phenomenon is often referred to as “politician’s promise” – where leaders prioritize winning votes over genuinely serving their constituents”

Historically, the Acholi people have faced significant challenges, including displacement, violence, and marginalization.

According to the 2022 Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report, the Acholi Sub-region ranked among the top poorest sub-regions after Karamoja in the north, with a poverty incidence recorded at 64 per cent.