LIRA CITY TYCOON OCOL JOHNSON PATEL HAILS LIRA CITY RESIDENTS FOR ELECTING DR. JANE RUTH ACENG AS WOMAN MP.
By Okidi Patrick and Atek Jolly Piloya.
Lira City, Uganda – January 22, 2026: In a powerful show of political maturity, prominent Lira City businessman and a strong NRM promoter, Ocol Johnson Patel, has issued a heartfelt congratulatory message to the people of Lira City and the wider Lango Sub-region for their role in electing Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero as the new Woman Member of Parliament.
Speaking to the media on Thursday 22, January 2026, Ocol Johnson Patel, widely regarded as one of the city’s most influential tycoons, praised the electorate for making what he described as a “transformative decision” during the January 15, 2026 general elections.
“My fellow comrades of Lira City and Lango Sub-region, what you did on 15th January 2026 was far greater than casting a vote. You made a bold statement of faith in our future,” Patel declared.
Dr. Aceng, who currently serves as Uganda’s Minister of Health and NRM chairperson Lira City, secured a decisive victory in the hotly contested race for Lira City Woman MP, marking her return to represent the people of Lira city in the 12th parliament of Uganda after years of national service.
Patel, who is also a concerned citizen and businessman with deep roots in the community, lauded the people’s choice as a beacon of hope and renewal.
“By electing Hon. Minister Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero as our Woman Member of Parliament, you have restored hope where it had grown faint, rekindled confidence in our collective strength, and reminded us that Lira City still believes in purposeful leadership,” he said.
Calling the victory “a symbol of renewal and God’s will,” Patel emphasized the significance of unity, resilience, and shared vision in the city’s ongoing journey toward development.
“This is not just a political win—it is a moral awakening,” he added. “You have laid a strong foundation upon which our city can rise again to develop rapidly—economically, socially, and morally.”
Patel urged residents to move beyond partisan divides and support Dr. Aceng’s leadership with constructive engagement and accountability.
“The true power of this victory lies not only in the ballot cast, but in the collective effort that must follow,” he stressed. “Let this moment inspire us to stand together, work together, and grow together for the progress of our communities.”
Dr. Aceng, a seasoned public health leader and former Resident District Commissioner in Lira, is widely respected for her professionalism, integrity, and development-oriented approach. Her election is seen as a unifying moment for a city striving to reclaim its status as a regional hub of commerce, education, and innovation.
As she prepares to join the 12th Parliament, Patel expressed confidence in her ability to deliver transformative change inclusing health improvement, roads , water access and availability and other legislative duties in parliament .
“I congratulate Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, all her supporters, and every citizen of Lira City who believed in this journey,” Patel concluded. “Lira City has spoken. Hope has been restored. The journey toward a stronger, thriving city has begun—and together, we shall walk it with pride, determination, and unity.”
“I say these, for God and my Country.”
The message has since sparked widespread praise for Hon.Dr Aceng Ocero on social media including national forums, with many residents echoing Patel’s sentiments and calling for renewed civic engagement in the development of Lira City.
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