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By John Baptist Akora
Lira City’s political landscape has taken a decisive turn ahead of the 2026 elections with the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leaders endorsing Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng for re-election. This rare move from the opposition signals a major political realignment and significantly boosts Aceng’s prospects of retaining the Lira City Woman MP (WMP) seat.
While still opposing the NRM government, Lira City’s FDC leaders are backing Dr. Aceng based on her track record and service delivery; shifting focus towards issue-based politics.
Their commitment to mobilizing votes cements her as the most viable candidate and one that is capable of transcending party divisions in favour of continuity, consolidation and development-driven leadership.
IT’S A REAL GAME CHANGER;
FDC’s endorsement expands Dr. Aceng’s appeal beyond the NRM, countering claims that she is solely a ruling party candidate and reinforcing her as a consensus leader. With both major candidates for the Lira City Woman MP seat affiliated with the NRM, FDC’s support tips the scales in her favor.
This may be a signal of a growing trend of pragmatism over party loyalty, where competence and delivery of services matter more than political affiliation; an approach long advocated for by President Museveni. That Lira City is leading this shift adds a unique political significance.
A RIPPLE EFFECT:
UPC and other Opposition groups could follow suit and this endorsement by FDC could trigger a broader political shift beyond Lira City. The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), historically strong in Lango sub-region, may follow suit as many UPC stalwarts backed Dr. Aceng in 2021 for Lira City WMP and remain convinced of her leadership.
Her four-year performance has validated their support, fueling tensions within UPC, whose leadership now claims she once boasted to President Museveni about dismantling their party in Lango using Lira City as staging ground.
If UPC leaders formally endorse her, it would solidify Aceng’s base beyond NRM support and thereby diminishing any potential challenger in 2026. More importantly, it could inspire a national trend where opposition members back strong candidates from the ruling party, securing better access to national resources and development projects.
BROADER IMPLICATIONS FOR 2026;
Uganda’s politics is possibly shifting towards performance-driven leadership, where opposition parties like FDC, NUP and UPC increasingly align with competent incumbents instead of maintaining rigid opposition.
Dr. Aceng’s bipartisan support bolsters her re-election bid, reinforcing a new model of politics based on results rather than party allegiance. If this trend spreads, Lira City could become a blueprint for pragmatic, service-oriented governance and thereby reshape Uganda’s political landscape as the country counts down to 2026 and beyond.
The author is a graduate student at Kyambogo University.
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