The ruling National Resistance Movement party is now firmly established in Lango, northern Uganda, a region that has been under the dominance of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) since independence.
Above: The people of Bala in Kole show support for NRM with Robert Egwea (in red tie) and Levi Okodi (in yellow tie)
This new development follows an intensive mobilisation drive spearheaded by Robert Olet Egwea, Executive member of NRM UK and Ireland Chapter and Hon Daniel Omara Atubo, Minister of Lands, Housing & Urban Development who officiated at the inauguration of NRM offices on behalf of the NRM Secretariat in all the five districts of Lango, namely Oyam, Lira, Apac, Dokolo and Amolatar.
Above: Col (Rtd) Okello Engola, Oyam NRM Chairman (in yellow t-shirt) and team welcome guests to Oyam with the “yellow,yellow” dance.
From September 4 to 6 2008 the team travelled to all Lango districts in an effort to educate and sensitise the people of Lango about the benefits of supporting NRMO and its policies. The team received a rapturous welcome throughout the region.
This is far different from the previous hostile environment that existed towards NRM as a party as many people in the region were supporters of UPC currently lead by Miria Obote.
Above: Hon Omara Atubo cuts the ribbon while innaugrating NRM office in Apac Town. From left: Richard Ogwang Odyero Apac NRM Chairman, Hon Omara Atubo, Robert Egwea, a local NRM official and Denis Okello (Apac NRM Administrative Secretary)
Hon Omara Atubo and team were warmly received by NRM district and parish chairpersons, councilors, district officials, representatives of various interest groups including women, disabled and elders, and NRM activists.
Key party officials who received the team included: Levi Okodi (Presidential Advisor), Col (Rtd) Okello Engola (Oyam NRM Chairman), Sam Engola (Lira NRM Chairman), Richard Ogwang Odyero (Apac NRM Chairman), Joan Pacotoo (Lira RDC), Ruth Adupa (Dokolo RDC), Yeko Ongora Atwai (Amolatar RDC) and many others.
Above: A group photo infront of Dokolo NRM office. Seated from left: Hon Levi Okodi (Presidential Advisor), Mrs Ruth Adupa (Dokolo RDC), Sam Engola (Lira NRM Chairman, Hon Daniel Omara Atubo (Minister of Lands, Housing & Urban Development), Denis Okello (Apac NRM Administrative Secretary) and Robert Egwea (Executive Member NRM UK & Ireland Chapter)
At least 1000 people from Lango have defected from other parties to NRM and the newly opened offices are seeing a stream of new members everyday, according to Movement officials on the ground.
Kole residents ask for a district
Kole residents did not waste time as they had earlier on been told how NRM would listen to their requests. They quickly seized the opportunity and asked government to give them a district. They say they needed this status as they experience difficulties in accessing services from Apac headquarters. Obtaining a district status would bring services to them and close for most people to benefit. NRM officials listened and promised to pursue the request.
Above: Hon Levi Okodi (front right) and Robert Egwea (in yellow tie) chat with the people of Kole
The request for a district was made during meetings held with NRM officials in preparation for the forthcoming visit by President Yoweri Museveni to Lango. The meetings took place in Aboke, Alito, Bala, Akalo and Ayer sub-counties between September 10 and 12.
NRM officials who met with the people of Kole were, among others: Presidential Advisor Levi Okodi, Amolatar RDC Yeko Ongora Atwai, Apac NRM Administrative Secretary Denis Okello and Executive member of NRM UK & Ireland Chapter Robert Egwea.
In Ayer sub-county headquarters, Robert Egwea donated a computer and a generator in fulfillment of a pledge he had made to the people of Ayer about a year ago.
Above: Richard Ojwiny, Ayer NRM Chairman (front left) receives a computer and generator from Robert Egwea (front right) as Yeko Ongora Atwai, Levi Okodi, Denis Okello and other people applaud
On the last day of the tour, the team visited Telela Valley Dam in Ayer, a multi-billion-shillings government project that will economically sustain every family of the villege through fish farming and irrigation.
Above: Rev Yeko Ongora Atwai, Amolatar RDC demonstrates ‘Movement’ sign to the people of Lango while Levi Okodi, Presidential Advisor (seated) smiles in approval
UPC resort to desperate measures
The success of NRM in Lango did not go well with UPC as they started using desperate measures to save their ailing party. They instigated and propagated a series of hate and smear campaigns against Robert Egwea and other members of NRM on radio, in the papers and through e-mails. Some of their postings, circulated world-wide, are fascist and criminal in nature. Therefore the situation is being closely monitored by appropriate authorities. Meanwhile, Egwea has maintained the moral high ground through a dignified silence.
“We will not respond to insults with insults. Let them shout while we work. I did not make the offending statements attributed to me in the Red Pepper. I leave everything with God”, said Egwea.
The Red Pepper, a Ugandan tabloid, had alleged that Egwea said Lango Association is sourcing funds to support terrorists. The allegation was then instantly hyped-up by Eddy Ococ,Treasurer of Lango Association UK, through his postings to members of Lango community and other people world-wide without first ascertaining the facts. A barrage of on-line hate mails directed towards Egwea and family followed soon After Ococ’s malicious postings.
Report presented to President Museveni
President Yoweri Museveni has received a fresh report on the social, economic and political development of Lango ahead of his forthcoming visit to the region. The report was compiled by Robert Egwea following his recent tour of the region.
In his presentation to the President on September 20 at Marriott Hotel in Leicester, UK, Egwea argued for Kole district in line with the wishes of Kole residents. Kole is part of Apac district, northern Uganda.
Having outlined the positive developments that he saw in the region, including restoration of peace, Egwea mentioned some of the problems faced by locals.
His report included several recommendations including surfacing of Lira-Apac-Akokoro-Masindi Port road, rural electrification, a district for Kole, pensions for war veterans and civil servants, and fulfilment of various presidential pledges.
As is the President’s way of acknowledging people’s effort by talking to them in their languages, President Museveni said ‘Afayo motek’ to Robert Egwea which means ‘Thank you very much’.
The meeting was attended by members of NRM UK & Ireland Chapter and Uganda government officials.
Filed under: Politics
interesting! they have started!
some of you will peg you teeth with big long. I don’t belong to any political system but believe me langi are ardent supporters of that thing call UPC. I think this is probably the time of eating. the big things are still quite a head, people are idol at home, the year is coming to an end, people have rested a lot from ”political ache” and any slight alarm of that nature will always attract people.
people are making verbal political alliances and we go publishing, to appease who! Owera!!
there is always a very good political tidal wave in lango and 100% of those in the above pictures will have a surprise burn by ”icok angic”
why waste time talking about political conversion now?
don’t this so call movement carders in lango have something developmental to talk about now?
roads are in pathetic condition, health services are in scrambling mess, education in lango is of no measure to that of ”oloka”.
be aware with that yellow color. it ignored us for a very long time(when sun flower has matured and has turn the head away, you will never twist it back).
the lango people are reviving their their econonmy and life through hardship while the favored people of the government are staying in mansions.
sorry