By Raymond Okello
YOU CAN’T LEAD LIRA CITY, TYCOON STINGS DR. JANE ACHENG
On 31st December, 2023, Lira City Tycoons gathered to open a new hotel (ARMAFLEX), belonging to one of them, Mr. Lawrence Okello, a businessman owning 26 petrol stations spread across Uganda and Kenya.
Mr. Lawrence Okello had just been bailed from custody after arrest by SHAU, on allegations of Land fraud. His arrest sparked outraged in Lira city because he bought the Land which was already titled to expand his petrol station. SHAU ignored the legal doctrine of bonafide purchaser without notice of fraud, and charged him and remanded him. The outraged turned to the Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Acheng when after the arrest, she called the Mayor, Lira City and celebrated how her power and influence has lead to the arrest of the said business man, and that a number of them who are not supporting her will still be arrested.
The function for opening the hotel was officiated by Hon. Betty Amongi, Minister of Gender, and attended by the Presidential Advisor, Mr. Sam Engola and his wife Hon. Betty Engola. The top business tycoons attended and during the speech, they all castigated a politician they elected and has now turned to fighting business community. One of them declared that the battle ground has been drawn and that Dr. Jane is unfit to lead the city because she doesnt understand the needs of business community. He concluded by calling upon all the people of Lango to join hands and burn the owl that has been disturbing people. In her speech, one of the top businesswoman advised Hon. Betty Amongi to mantain her character of being pro-people since her victory is assured.
Dr. Jane Acheng convenes emergency meeting with security to complaint…
Meanwhile, on 28th and 31st December, 2023, Dr. Jane Acheng convened meetings with security team and ordered them to stop any meeting organised by Hon. Betty Amongi in Lira city. She complained that she had influenced the transfer of all police and brought a new team but she is very dissapointed that the new team has already been compromised and are not following her orders.
Her complaint arose when she had earlier directed the RCC, RPC &DPC to stop the meeting of LC1&LC2 convened by Hon. Amongi at their residence with her Husband who doubles as area MP and UPC Party President but on arrival on the ground, the DPC refused to disperse the leaders after finding the meeting ongoing, and the minister Betty Amongi sensitising the leaders about PDM, Women’s, youth, PWD and older persons funds.
At the moment, the only team Dr Jane wants to use to intimidate people in Lira city is security, however, the police has so far resisted acting outside the law. It remains to be seen how far her sole supporter, the RCC will go, in singlehandedly abusing state power to support her woman.
Her supporters has already given up, most especially that she has told them not to compare her with Hon. Amongi who is contributing to all church fundraisings, burials, social functions, on top of providing cheap loans to business women, providing tools and equipments for teenage girls who have dropped out, and supporting street kids and communities, among others.
Dr. Jane has tried to convene consultative meetings to salvage her support but the very social Amongi, whose strategies has now turned to grassroots, playing cards, drinking local brew and fetching water with women has left the population mesmerised how a minister can move freely without police and mix freely with them.
What is now obvious, is that Lira City remains a hot spot political consituency in the country.
