Lango Opposition Leaders Defy Akena’s Anti Museveni Call, Board Bus to Meet President Museveni for Development Talks.
By Okidi Patrick
LIRA, UGANDA – November 15, 2025: A significant political rift has deepened within the opposition ranks in the Lango Sub-region, following the decision by prominent local leaders from the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) and the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) to openly defy their party principals and travel to meet President Yoweri Museveni.
The delegation, comprising seventeen opposition members, boarded a bus from Lira City midday Saturday, November 15, 2025, heading towards a scheduled meeting with President Museveni. Their action comes just days after they publicly disowned the directive by UPC President Jimmy Michael Akena advising supporters against voting for or backing the incumbent leader.
The team was led by key figures, including Geoffrey Alex Ogwal, the Kwania District LC5 Chairperson, and Alex Oremo Alot, the former Lira District LC5 Chairman,
The leaders justified their developmental shift in allegiance by arguing that continuous support for the sitting President is essential to guarantee ongoing stability and development projects in Lango. Others key opposition figures in the list who boarded the bus to meet H.E. Yoweri Museveni are; Atim Grace Ogwal, Apili Harriet, Olobo Patrick l , Adem Morris Okello, Ocen Agwec Tom Richard , Ewal George, Ogutu Brian ,Odongo mark, Eling Geoffrey ,Anyeko Denis , Ocen Angelos , Epur Apach among others.
According to them while speaking to TAYARI NEWS UGANDA before they set off some of them narrated that “Museveni’s leadership has brought peace and development to Lango; we cannot ignore that. Our goal is to ensure continued stability and progress for our communities,” said Geoffrey Ogwal, during a briefing to some members of the 4th Estate before their departure.
Their positive move directly counters Akena’s clear advisory issued during a recent UPC manifesto launch in Lira City, where he cautioned party adherents against giving their vote to the NRM flag bearer president Museveni in 2026 general election.
The move to openly denounce Akena and endorse museveni’s wealth creation government of NRM was reached at during a press briefing issued on Friday, November 14, 2025, where the 17 opposition leaders comprising both major UPC and FDC members endorsed a statement disassociating themselves from Akena’s anti-Museveni call.
Chris Ongom, the UPC Regional Vice Chairperson, emphasized that party loyalty should not override regional development needs.
“We strongly disassociate ourselves from the recent directive by the UPC president,” Ongom stated. “The decision is rooted in the desire for unity and national development rather than strict party loyalty. Our support is for the President as an individual, and Lango voters remain free to choose leaders of their preference at local and legislative levels.”
The delegation pointed to tangible achievements as proof of Museveni’s commitment to the region. Brian Oguyu, the FDC Secretary for Mobilization, cited infrastructure improvements.
“We demonstrated about Lira-Kamdini road Museveni constructed it and it is now nearing completion, and Akii-Bua stadium is being constructed and it is up to 69 percent completion . We cannot be different from other parts of Uganda but should support President Museveni in order for development to take place.”
While offering support for the President, the leaders were careful to differentiate their backing for Museveni individually from support for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party structure at the local level.
“Our support is for the President as an individual, not for NRM flag bearers,” Ongom noted. “We urge our colleagues in UPC and FDC to join us in promoting unity, peace, and development in Lango and Uganda.”
Some of the Political analysts in Lango sub-region suggest this public defiance may signal a broader, pragmatic shift in Ugandan politics ahead of the 2026 General Elections. The willingness of influential local opposition figures to cross party lines publicly to secure regional development resources indicates that loyalty to the executive may increasingly outweigh party affiliation, especially in regions focusing on rapid infrastructural growth.
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