Kilak North member of parliament and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) legislator Anthony Akol has signaled his willingness to join the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), but only if certain demands are met.
Speaking at a fundraising event in Pabo town council over the weekend, Akol outlined conditions that he insists must be addressed before making the political shift. His remarks were made in the presence of speaker of parliament Anita Among, at a time when several opposition and independent MPs—particularly from Northern Uganda— are aligning themselves more closely with the ruling party.
AKOL’S CONDITIONS FOR JOINING NRM
Addressing the gathering, Akol stated that he had previously discussed his terms with Speaker Among and was awaiting confirmation that President Yoweri Museveni would meet them.
“Right Honorable Speaker, this morning I sat down with you and outlined the conditions we have given to President Yoweri Museveni. Among them is the demand for Apaa to become a district and for the land to be designated for human settlement,” Akol stated.
He also emphasized the need for compensation for livestock lost by the Acholi people and the implementation of measures to alleviate widespread poverty in the region.
“Right Honorable Speaker, if you can confirm and pledge before the people that these issues will be addressed, then I will join NRM. If not, I cannot,” he added.
Akol further noted that he was aware the speaker had contacted President Museveni regarding these conditions and urged her to inform the people about his response.
SPEAKER AMONG RESPONDS
In response, Speaker Among reassured Akol and the people of Northern Uganda that their concerns were being addressed at the highest levels.
“One thing I can confirm to you is that the government is actively working on addressing poverty in Northern Uganda. There is an ongoing program to ensure a transition to a money economy, not only in Northern Uganda but across the entire country,” Among stated.
She pointed to government initiatives such as the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF), which is aimed at supporting economic development in post-conflict communities through infrastructure projects, training, and livelihood programs, often with financial assistance from the World Bank.
Regarding the demand for Apaa to be granted district status, Among reminded MPs that such decisions fall under the jurisdiction of parliament.
“Colleagues, you know that the authority to create new administrative units rests with us in parliament. After this event, we will meet with President Museveni, Honorable Akol, Mapendezi, and Lucy to discuss the concerns of this area. These issues can only be resolved through direct engagement,” she said.
CHALLENGES IN CREATING NEW DISTRICTS
The proposal to establish Apaa as a district comes amid broader concerns over the viability of newly created administrative units. Speaker Among previously cautioned against the unchecked creation of districts, citing financial constraints and inadequate resources for existing ones.
“We rushed the creation of districts in the 10th Parliament, and now many of them lack essential resources such as offices and funding. While I understand the need to split large districts, we must first address these existing problems,” she stated.
With Akol’s political stance hinging on the government’s commitment to addressing these issues, his next move remains uncertain. However, his public declaration suggests that the ongoing political realignments in Northern Uganda could see yet another opposition MP crossing over to the NRM, should his demands be met.
Ugandans, please, do not go for next useless parliamentary election to ensure you are abused legally, constitutionally by useless mps who do NOTHING for electorates, but just ensure Rwandese Museveni’s ownership of Uganda; mps are only there to ensure their FREE pays for doing NOTHING for Ugandans as they know NOTHING of what being Member of Parliament is nor what belonging to a country means!
No real member of parliament would be happy in a shithole owned, ruled by a migrant dictator since 1986, with no chance of change as opposers are imprisoned!
Rwandese Museveni will rule with or without fake presidential election! So why will Ugandans continue protecting him with the fake useless parliament, knowing even so called opposition mps have joined Museveni to ensure his lifetime rule?
More so, isn’t it the useless parliament that put in law to ensure Museveni rules for life?
Ugandans, please, NO to the tribalistic system Museveni put in place & UNITY NOW, to have the power to block & show him way out, then put in place the kind of governance you want!
It’s clear now that there is no opposition to Museveni as ALL mps work for him & none even talks of what Dr Besigye & other opposers are going through!
So Ugandans, why go for next fake presidential election to ensure 45 years of Museveni, then next useless parliamentary election to ensure your enslavement legally, constitutionally, especially as there is no National/Common Leader to UNITE you & Museveni has already won?
Worse regime than that of Field Marshal Idi Amin!!! Innocent people are militarily punished; and who knows how many have been killed from military units.
The army commander himself has often openly stated that he will kill anyone opposed to his father. Is there any difference from Amin’s military rule?
Akot you have a point about this Acholi tribes people fraternity. Apart from MP Anthony Akol telling his constituents lots of political lies the party he wants to run away from, that is FDC, has already been in bed with the ruling political party for many years and counting. So what is so special about Mr Akol shouting his head off about joining NRM! One believes he wants lots of tax payers money to run his campaign of 2026 which that very rich speaker is providing to whoever wants it left, right and centre. For the Ganda tribes people, many who do not even vote, have made up their minds not to go any near those vote booths and vote come January 2026. Many are telling Mr Kyagulanyi that if he wants national votes to become the next President of Uganda, he can try to go to the Northern and Western Provinces for such a lucrative political and business adventures!
Do you believe in politician who trades/negotiates his support for a party? I always question the maturity of politics in Uganda. By the way I have a BA in Political Science from Makerere University at the time when the Institution was the best in East African and well known in the whole of Africa
Most of these politicians do not deserve our votes even to represent us they are an embarrassment
Acholi have many isues to be addressed there for need their leaders to be close to the government in power. Many tribes in uganda/leaders did that and was not a concerns, why that of Akol and other leaders from Acholi?