Acholi MPs Race to Replace Akol as APG Faces Unity and Land Challenges
The race to succeed Anthony Akol as chairperson of the Acholi Parliamentary Group has opened a wider debate on the future of the regional caucus.
Akol has said he will not seek another term, creating a contest among senior legislators from the Acholi sub-region.
Those who have entered the race include former Leader of the Opposition Betty Aol Ocan, Kilak South MP Gilbert Olanya, Agago County MP Edward Otto Makmot, and Layibi-Bardege Division MP Martin Ojara Mapenduzi.
The winner will inherit more than a leadership title. The next chairperson will take over a caucus still trying to rebuild its influence after years of internal disagreements.
The new leadership will also face unresolved regional concerns, including land conflicts, post-war recovery, infrastructure gaps, education, healthcare and poverty.
APG’s role in Acholi politics
The Acholi Parliamentary Group was established in 1989.
It brings together Members of Parliament from all 28 constituencies in the Acholi sub-region, regardless of political party.
The caucus was created to give Acholi a united voice after years of conflict, displacement and economic destruction.
Over the years, APG has pushed for action on land governance, compensation for war victims, infrastructure, education, healthcare and transitional justice.
However, several leaders say the group’s influence has weakened.
Kilak South MP Gilbert Olanya has linked that decline to long-running internal disputes.
He cited divisions during the 11th Parliament, when rival factions recognised different leaders and issued conflicting positions on matters affecting the region.
Those disputes weakened the caucus’s ability to speak with one voice on Acholi issues.
Influence, not salary
Timothy Msobor Chemonges, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Analysis, said the value of leading APG lies in influence rather than financial reward.
“There is no automatic salary or constitutional allowance attached to becoming chairperson of a parliamentary group,” Chemonges said.
He said caucus leaders often become recognised voices on regional policy issues.
They also engage government ministries, development partners and other stakeholders.
Chemonges said such leaders coordinate advocacy efforts and may represent Parliament in regional and international policy forums.
Land question remains central
Land is expected to remain one of the biggest issues facing the next APG chairperson.
Former Leader of the Opposition Betty Aol Ocan said protecting customary land while encouraging responsible investment would be among her priorities if elected.
“Our biggest challenge is balancing the protection of ancestral communal land with the need to attract responsible investment,” she said.
Outgoing chairperson Anthony Akol also said land remains the most pressing issue for the caucus.
He pointed to disputes involving pastoralists commonly known as Balaalo.
Their presence in parts of northern Uganda has created tension despite repeated presidential directives ordering the removal of illegally settled cattle keepers.
“The land question remains unresolved,” Akol said.
Caucuses and regional interests
The APG succession race has also renewed debate about the role of parliamentary caucuses in Uganda.
Although caucuses do not have constitutional powers to make laws independently, they have become important platforms for political lobbying.
They can shape policy debates, influence committee work and push government to respond to regional or sector-specific concerns.
For Acholi, the next APG leadership will be judged by its ability to restore unity and rebuild public confidence in the caucus.
The chairperson will also need to present a clear regional agenda on land, post-war recovery, service delivery and development.
Whether APG regains its former influence may depend less on who wins the race and more on whether the next leadership can unite MPs behind common priorities.