Minister Amongi Vows to Eradicate Poverty with Soft Loan Fund in Lira City Campaign; NRM Defectors Join UPC in Teobia Ward.
BY OKIDI PATRICK
LIRA CITY, UGANDA – November 29, 2025: As the countdown to the 2026 general elections intensifies, Hon. Betty Amongi Akena, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, has ramped up her campaign for the Lira City Woman Member of Parliament (WMP) seat, unveiling a number of manifesto focused heavily on economic empowerment and skills development.
During her political rally at the LPC premises in Teobia Ward, Lira City East Division, on Saturday, November 29, 2025, Minister Amongi promised comprehensive solutions to tackle poverty, emphasizing that her service delivery, if elected, would benefit all residents irrespective of political party affiliation.
Amongi outlined several key pillars of her economic strategy, centered on skilling youth and women. She committed to establishing a fully equipped vocational skilling center in Lira City.
“I want to ensure our youth and women are self-reliant,” Amongi told the gathered electorate. The proposed center would offer short, market-ready courses, including tailoring and garment cutting, bakery, hairdressing and salon management, and Building and Construction Principles (BCP).
The Minister also promised to provide access to affordable loans for women and youth below the age of 35 who have organized and formed groups.
She promised school fees loan system managed through cooperatives. “Once elected, we will initiate school fees loans that will be interest-free for the first three months. Beyond that period, a small interest will apply,” she announced, stating this system would significantly help families afford timely school fee payments.
Addressing the issue of unemployment among graduates, Amongi reaffirmed her earlier commitment to establishing a Jobs Matching Scheme and volunteer/internship programs, an initiative for empowering the youth. For sustainable solutions, she proposed promoting cooperative systems centered on small-scale agriculture and poultry farming.
The Minister also disclosed a targeted welfare initiative, distributing health insuarence cards to pregnant women who were present at the rally, signaling a focus on maternal health support.
Minister Amongi also highlighted her track record of personal investment in Lira City infrastructure, specifically citing the completion of a vital bridge linking Akwiya Lworo to other areas. Furthermore, she revealed that she personally used her own funds to rehabilitate roads in Akwiyaworo, Barapwo, and Angwetangwet. She also confirmed the distribution of seeds and over 20,000 hand hoes across the city.
POLITICAL DEFECTION WITNESSED AS SOME NRM SUPLORTEES CRODSED To UPC.
The campaign rally witnessed several supporters of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) crossed over to join the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) party.
The defectors were officially welcomed by Mr. Simon Okaka, the UPC party chairman for Lira City. Mr. Okaka presented the new members with UPC party cards and T-shirts, solidifying the party’s growing presence ahead of the 2026 polls.
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