The gimmick in Bardege-Layibi is not an honest bid for leadership but a double syndicate.

Bardege-Layibi became a constituency when Gulu municipality was elevated to a city status. In 2021 General Election, that constituency had the most powerful candidates in Acholi subregion. People who vied for the position of Member of Parliament Bardege-Layibi Constituency includes the last Gulu municipality member of Parliament, Hon. Lyandro Komakech, Counsel Tony Kitara, a renown lawyer and a proprietor of the Covenant bar and grill, Pastor Olal Roy and others. Hon. ojara Martin Mapenduzi who had exhibited peculiar and charismatic leadership ability during his time as speaker and Chairperson Gulu district emerged a winner in that tight race. 

Upon his victory and eventual swearing in as the member of Parliament of the Constituency, he has made Gulu city and Bardege-Layibi Constituency in particular very tall, visible and loud. Because of his wisdom and abilities, the opposition entrusted Hon. Mapenduzi, a first timer in Parliament to head Local Government Public Accounts Committee, a position he performed in up to standards and delivered as expected. Though his hard work also earned him a number of enemies since his committee reports exposed some districts, cities and municipal officials. This Committee is currently headed by Hon. Gilbert Olanya, MP Kilak South.

Back home in his Constituency, Hon. Mapenduzi established Mapenduzi Foundation, an organization he is using to among others support the health of children and elders; where children age 5 below and elders age 60 and above receive good medical care from Light Ray and St. Philip medical center. Through this foundation, over 300 youth from Bardege-Layibi have benefited from different vocational trainings among others tailoring, mechanic, hairdressing, catering, agriculture, tractor operation. Through his office, as a member of Parliament, Hon. Mapenduzi has also put in place tents and chairs to support youth activities and other events in the community. He signed a memorandum that has offered full bursaries  for a number of youth to pursue their certificates, diplomas and degrees in different fields. He is doing a lot within his means as an area member of Parliament.

Hon. Ojara Martin Mapenduzi is not into party politics, but rather focuses much on service deliveries for Ugandans, that is why he accepted his appointment as the Chairperson Committee on Public Service and Local Government,  a position he is currently in and performing without questions.

Acholi had political icons among others Hon. Adimola, Late Atwoma, Hon. Okello Okello, Hon. Okumu Reagan, Hon. Mao who is currently the minister of Justice and constitutional affairs and still has influence, and now comes Hon. Mapenduzi, groomed and cherished by Acholi for being proactive, and very strong and bold on matters that affect the local people. He led the way in the fights against sachet waragi, indiscriminate tree felling and Balalo influx. At one point, he was spotted whipping one of the charcoal burners, though many stubbornly continued to bring Balalo and the charcoal dealers into Acholi land.

Hon. Mapenduzi who was one of the best Local Government Chairpersons during their days, has become an expert in local government businesses. He works closely with all local governments and always available to go extra miles to guide our district Chairpersons, municipal and city mayors. He has started and still interested in availing more opportunities for building Gulu City Councillors capacities.

In 2023 when Prof. Ogenga Otunnu was duped with the Parish to Market Project, he tried to lure Acholi leaders into working together with him, but it was not an easy deal since Hon. Mapenduzi together with other Members of Parliament; Hon. Charles Onen, Hon. Betty Aol, Hon. Tony Awany, Hon. Okin PP, Hon.Wokorach Simon Peter, Hon. Olanya Gilbert and others sensed danger in the project, because it was not clear and this made them to deem it a smart way to grab land of the local people. This did not go well with the clique of ministers and army officers who need thousands and thousands acres of land in Acholi. 

Following President's meeting with Lango and Acholi leaders in Barlegi State Lodge Otuke in May 2023, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni issued Executive Order 03 of which among others expels Balalo living in Northern Uganda Illegally. The executive order got Acholi too excited and optimistic that finally the problematic Balalo would leave Acholi land. No matter all the efforts exerted to sabotage the order, Acholi were so much charged to push the herdsmen out of the region. The other clique (Modern Balalo) expected Hon. Mapenduzi to support their course, but they were disappointed since the legislator decided to stick with Acholi people and demanded that the president's order be respected, and this again did not go well with them. Media was very instrumental in organizing and mobilizing people with #Balalo_must_go trending on all social media networks, though the modern Balalo did a lot to counter this. Arrests were made of people who were alleged to have crossed into these herdsmen fences.They organized a number of talkshows on radio and TV stations to defend the Modern Balalo. Hundreds of agents were recruited on social media to shout #Balalo_must_stay, all these approaches were deployed to protect the Modern Balalo with their interest of acquiring thousands acres in Acholi Subregion, and since the voices of Balalo_must_go seem too loud, two syndicates, one being immediate needed to be executed.

The first (1st) syndicate: Gen's political consultation for Bardege-Layibi Constituency Parliamentary bid. Personally he is not very interested in swinging into politics himself, but because he is an army officer who gets the last order from his commanders, he had to organize himself and start traversing the Constituency immediately dashing out money. Starting consultation in 2023 was too early according to many political pundits. The main intention of this early consultation is to divert debates and discussions in Acholi. Remember media has become very influential in Uganda, and once you manage it, you are good to go. They have succeeded in this, excellently since social media immediately stopped the Balalo talks and turned to Bardege-Layibi Constituency politics. Very few are now following up the Balalo matters, since all talks are now about money in Bardege-Layibi. Everyone ran and joined the team no matter the party differences. Councillors from DP, FDC, NRM and others all ran into the camps saying opportunity never knocks twice. People are saying belonging to Gen's camp has nothing to do with voting him since election is still far. They claim this is a good opportunity to make money for January and for taking children back to school since the economy is very hard.

The second(2nd) syndicate: Modern Balalo to choose leaders for Acholi in 2026 General Election, and the ground work is already going on. The land, petroleum and the vast minerals deposit in the region has turned into a misfortune for Acholi people. The truth that everyone should get familiar with, is that the Balalo clinking in Acholi land are very different from the herdsmen pushed away from Teso, Lango and other parts of the country. Just like the Hon. Chief Justice once stated, these are proxies of ministers and army officers. The Modern Balalo are ministers, commissioners, permanent secretaries, army officers and other big shots in the government. A number of reports from leaders, journalists and other researchers indicate that over 30 ministers and army officers allegedly bought big chunks of customary land in Acholi. It is upon this motive that the clique are doing everything possible to maintain ownership of the land, attain more, especially the minerals rich areas and they dominate business, farming and all spheres of life.

Acholi should understand that it is not by coincidence that the same people who were supporting Balalo are the ones supporting the likely candidature of Gen. The move of the Modern Balalo to choose leaders for Acholi is not just limited to Bardege-Layibi Constituency. It's a huge project that will be heavily funded, because they claimed that Acholi like free things, lazy and foolish enough to be bought of to vote balalo's candidates. As Gen is fronted against Hon. Mapenduzi, the same way candidates will be fronted on Hon. Akol Anthony, Hon. Wokorach Simon Peter, Hon. Amos Okot, Hon. Olanya Gilbert, Hon. Betty Aol Ocan, Hon. Santo Okot and others who refused to support the Modern Balalo.

It is of no use to continue attacking Gen since he is an army officer executing the last orders of his superiors, but Acholi should just understand that the Bardege-Layibi political stand is not between Gen and Hon. Mapenduzi, but rather a contest between the Modern Balalo and Acholi people. Thinking that, they have finally acquired land in Acholi, in the country site, these Modern Balalo are now targeting land in Gulu City, particular Bardege-Layibi to set up their hotels, estates, malls, international schools, international hospitals, factories. They have key interest in Kasubi ward, Bardege ward, Kanyagoga and others because they are along Gulu Airport. It's absurd that a number of Acholi girls and boys are jumping with excitement that they belong to Gen's camp, calling it a camp of money and they are coming with miracles to change the lives of all people, a very huge fiction indeed! Acholi lwongo ni "too piny"

Even though the economy is biting hard and many young people are losing their conscience, and selling their souls, the remaining open-minded people who care about the future of Acholi, should continue preaching truth to the local people, to avoid being conned in 2026 General Election.

lucoromoi@gmail.com

lucoromoi2026.blogspot.com

(A Pedagogue | Youth Leader | Blogger & Media Activist)