A political rivalry between two cabinet ministers has taken a new turn, with the police now involved in a dispute over the destruction of campaign materials.
The feud pits Gender and Labour Development minister Betty Amongi Akena against Health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, both vying for the Lira City Woman MP seat.
On Monday, police were heavily deployed across Lira City as Amongi, escorted by her husband and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party president Jimmy Akena, attempted to re-mount her campaign posters and banners.
The couple was blocked from entering the bus park but was allowed to place posters in other areas of the city. The dispute began on Sunday morning when nearly all of Amongi’s campaign posters were removed and dumped at the Lira City Works Department yard.
Amongi accused her opponent, minister Aceng, of collaborating with security operatives under the direction of Lira resident city commissioner (RCC) Lawrence Egole to have her materials destroyed.
In response, Amongi, accompanied by her husband, took to the streets to replace the posters. She said Aceng was acting out of fear of losing the election, adding that she had already paid the necessary advertisement fees for her posters to be displayed in the city.
When contacted, Aceng declined to comment on the matter. Jimmy Akena condemned the removal of the posters of his wife as an act of political sabotage that violates democratic principles.
Lira City Mayor Sam Atul, who was also implicated, distanced himself from the incident, calling for clear regulations on the display of campaign posters within the city. The couple later filed a complaint at Lira central police station.
However, North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson Jimmy Patrick Okema stated that the matter could not be investigated, citing Section 82 (2) of the Parliamentary Elections Act.
Okema explained that the act only criminalizes the destruction of posters belonging to duly nominated candidates, and since no one has been nominated yet, no crime was committed under that law. Akena, however, insisted that the incident constitutes malicious damage to property and vowed to pursue the case.
This is Mr. M7’s evil mischief of divide and rule. And I am sure he loves to see the cat fight between the 2 prominent Langi women legislators.
In other word, only God knows the ripple effects of the bitterness and animosity between the supporters of the belligerents.
But for Heaven and Hell’s sake why did Dr. Aceng join elective politics?
Otherwise, the Ugandan politics is rigged with dehumanizing dishonesty, corruption greed and/or violence. No wonder the posters of the contending aspirants have already started suffering from the violence and counter violence.
Uneno?