State House meeting Gulu City Woman MP Betty Aol Ocan has dismissed speculation that she is planning to defect to the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The clarification follows her recent visit to State House Entebbe, where she and other opposition legislators from the Acholi sub-region held a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni.
In an interview over the weekend, Aol explained that the meeting was part of a broader strategy by regional leaders to seek solutions to the challenges facing the Acholi sub-region.
She stressed that the purpose of the visit was to present a memorandum to the president not to lay the groundwork for joining the NRM. Aol reaffirmed her commitment to the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), a breakaway faction of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), saying she has no intention of abandoning her party.
“This is not the first time I have met the president. Museveni is the president of all Ugandans. Meeting him shouldn’t be misinterpreted,” she said.
“We cannot run away from Uganda. Constitutionally, we have a right to speak to the president. That doesn’t mean we’ve crossed. I am opposition, opposition 3-1-1, FDC-Katonga. Let it be clear to every Ugandan: I am not defecting.”
Aol also stated that if she were ever to consider crossing over to the NRM, she would first consult her constituents before making any decision.
Gilbert Olanya: “We’re Still in the Opposition” Kilak South MP Gilbert Olanya, also a member of the FDC, echoed Aol’s sentiments. Although he did not attend the State House meeting, Olanya said the initiative to engage with the government was jointly developed by opposition MPs from the region after reviewing the dire state of land conflicts, poverty, and delayed compensation in Acholi.
“I’ve heard people say I’ve joined the NRM. Others say those who went to meet the president were bribed. No. People just talk,” he said. “We were only taking our demands to the president—nothing more. And those who have officially crossed made public declarations. The Bible says you cannot hide your character. If you’ve crossed, it will be known.”
Olanya mentioned that only three leaders from Acholi had publicly declared their move to the NRM: Martin Ojara Mapenduzi (Bardege-Layibi Division MP), Anthony Akol (Kilak North MP), and the Amuru district LC V chairperson.
“They made their pronouncements and crossed to NRM. We wish them well. But the rest of us are still in the opposition and we shall remain in the opposition,” he added.
The March 13 State House meeting brought together several legislators from Acholi, including Santa Okot (Aruu North MP), Okin PP Ojara (Chua West MP), and Lucy Akello (Amuru Woman MP), among others.
Last year, at least 10 opposition MPs from the Acholi sub-region launched a collaborative initiative dubbed ‘Operation Harmony’, aimed at working with the government across political divides to advance the region’s development.
During the meeting with President Museveni, the legislators raised several concerns, including delayed cattle compensation, the need for a transitional justice framework, management of land conflicts, rising poverty levels, collapse of the education and health sectors. Despite working with the government, the MPs reiterated that their loyalty to the opposition remains intact and their efforts are solely driven by the interests of the Acholi people.
Betty, that meeting you talk about is well calculated, why meet in the state house, that very man sent his soldiers to steal cattle from the population. Was he stealing from entebbe, let him just come to the region and all people who lost their cows give the numbers and he gives them their cows,
Do you see that its after no cow no vote that he is calling you to lure you cool the population.
These days his son’s army keeps people two hundred metres away when he is passing, we shall see how he come to us telling us he our president.
For you people who have refused to appreciate kyagu, you are traitors.
Uhuru used to go his people and chat when he was president
Starts as rumors and then? Please Betty we love you and you are a big asset in the opposition please do not betray us. You see; highly dedicated to the cause
The northern Uganda leaders shouldn’t ever bow to the oppressor. It’s clear that all the suffering was brought by the NRA/M al-Nakba. The government should bow to your requests not the reverse.
No wonder of late, after the sale of FDC by Patrick Amuriat and Nandala Mafabi to our 84-year-old “Problem of Africa”, Gen Tibuhaburwa; the Norbert Mao, Beatrice Anywar, Lillian Aber (Arach), Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, Anthony Akol the Amuru district LC V chairperson of Acholi Sub-region started speaking in tongue, whenever asked about their political standing vis-a-vis their former Political party FDC.
These folks are free to sell themselves and even their mothers to Mr. M7. But they should not try to sell the people of Acholi, who have been the ultimate victims of subjugation by Mr. M7, who likened the Acholi people to baboons and had been fighting them since 1981, from the the bushes of Luweero (25 years) till 2005.
Mr. M7 has flipped into courting and buying off the leadership (legislators) of the people of Acholi, and including the the so call “Cultural Leaders” is because; the Baganda (Buganda), whom he lied to, manipulated and was his vanguard of violent ascend to illegitimate power (our State House); have woken up and dumped him and/or the NRM.
Without being and/or sounding tribal, by flipping into supporting and/or voting for their 26-year tormentor; the people of Acholi Sub-region must be aware of treachery and backlash from Buganda.
In other words, thanks to Pastor Martin Niemöller reminder Poem!
In 1981, through the bushes of Luweero; when Tibuhaburwa came for the people Acholi and Langi, but because the rest of Ugandans were not the Bacholi and Rangi, nobody cared. When Tibuhaburwa went for the Itesot (Teso), but because others were not the Itesot, nobody gave a damn.
In Nov 2016, when Tibuhaburwa came for the Bakonjo in Kasese, but because they were not Bakonjo, nobody cared. In Dec 2020, when Tibuhaburwa went for Hon Kyagulanyi neck and/or NUP supporters like the Kibalama of this country (Baganda), but because they were not Kyagulanyi, NUP supporters like the Kibalama of this country (Baganda), nobody cared.
And finally when Tibuhburwa went for the Journalists during the Kawemped North Bi-erection, it seems there is now no one left to speak.
Wachireba Banyankole and others? Intoxicated Blinded and deafened by raw power, our 84-year-old Problem of Africa will also come for you!
Never say never!
Why are these people from Acholi all of a sudden in love with M7 and his brutal party: Has he resolved their problems of abject poverty, cattle rustling, education and so on? I bet it is money and positions and once they obtain that they ate comfortable and silent about the plight in the North. Indeed they have short memories.
Marc Mae, it is such sycophancy, pettiness and treachery for which 2025 years ago, Jesus said it would have been better if Judas Iscariot was not born.
These treacherous MPs, forgot about how on average, over 1,000 children that died per week in the IDP Camps for 21 years (1986-2005). No wonder the controversia
For 20 years Plus, they forgot about the other thousands of those children who survived deaths in the IDP Camps and never went to school.
In other words, it was by design. Mr. M7 through: ignorance, poverty and concealed (diseases) biological means (communicable diseases in the filthy Camps) wanted to depopulate, displace and/or stupefy the people of Acholi Sub-region and occupy their vast fertile arable land.
Hence e.g., the Balalo phenomena.