LIRA CITY – Amolatar Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Francise Okello Odoki Rwotlonyo has called upon residents of the Lango sub-region to freely join the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), describing the organisation as a pressure group within the NRM rather than a separate political party.
Rwotlonyo made the call during the official launch of the PLU endorsement exercise for Lango held on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at Mayor’s Garden in Lira City, drawing hundreds of supporters from across the sub-region.
In his address, Rwotlonyo sought to clarify the nature of the PLU, which has sometimes been misunderstood as a rival political formation.
“PLU is not a political party. It is a pressure group within the NRM,” Rwotlonyo told the crowd. “Its objectives are pursued through the NRM under the ‘Tuko Pamoja’ arrangement. Do not fear to join—this is about strengthening our party, not dividing it.”
His clarification echoes statements made by PLU officials at the event. Kasambya County MP Daudi Kabanda, who heads the PLU Chairman’s Office, also emphasised that PLU is not a party and that its objectives would be pursued through the NRM.
The PLU has consistently positioned itself as non-partisan while maintaining a strategic alliance with the ruling National Resistance Movement. Government Chief Whip and PLU Lango Coordinator Dr Jane Ruth Aceng told the gathering that PLU had not come to eliminate the NRM but to reinforce it and further provide quality services and leadership for the country.
Rwotlonyo revealed that a central objective of the PLU is to expedite the fight against corruption and oversee effective service delivery to the public.
“PLU is to expedite fights against corruption and overseeing effective service delivery to the public,” he said. “This is not just about politics. It is about ensuring that every shilling allocated for our health centres, our schools, and our roads reaches the intended beneficiaries.”
He described corruption as the single greatest threat to Uganda’s development, arguing that no amount of political mobilisation would matter if public resources continued to be diverted.
“You can talk about a $500 billion GDP, but if corruption eats into our budgets, that money will never reach the people,” Rwotlonyo said. “The PLU is committed to changing that. We will monitor government programmes at every level and hold accountable those who steal from the public.”
His remarks align with his previous public statements on leadership. In September 2026, Rwotlonyo issued a statement describing public service as “a divine calling” and urging leaders to embrace humility, integrity, and vision.
“To serve the Nation is a great honor. To serve with humility and dignity is an even greater privilege,” he said at the time. “But to serve with vision, purpose, and a clear sense of direction is not only a divine calling—it is an expression of Godly faith.”
Rwotlonyo urged residents to embrace the PLU without hesitation, stressing that registration is free and voluntary.
“I call upon the people of Amolatar and the entire Lango sub-region to join this movement freely,” he said. “No one should be coerced or intimidated. This is your opportunity to be part of a movement that will deliver effective service delivery to our communities.”
Organisers at the event said endorsement books would be distributed to all sub-counties and placed at their headquarters for people to voluntarily sign. PLU has described its current nationwide activity as an endorsement and mobilisation exercise for General Muhoozi Kainerugaba ahead of the 2031 presidential election.
Rwotlonyo tied his endorsement directly to the promise of improved service delivery, drawing on his experience as Amolatar’s RDC.
“Government has a lot of services to deliver, and those services must reach our people,” he said. “The PLU is a vehicle that will ensure these services are delivered effectively, without corruption and without favouritism.”
He cited his own record in Amolatar, where he has prioritised accountability and ethical leadership.
“I have always said that leadership is about service, not self-enrichment,” Rwotlonyo said. “The PLU shares that vision. That is why I am calling on every well-meaning Ugandan to join.”
Rwotlonyo’s endorsement adds a significant government voice to the PLU’s expanding coalition in Lango. The Lira City launch brought together NRM legislators, LC5 chairpersons, and party leaders from across the sub-region.
Lango Parliamentary Group chairperson Patrick Ogwang Obura said leaders were strongly united and determined to deliver for the region, adding that the service delivery chain had to be protected from corrupt individuals.
Erute South MP and Minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Sam Engola described General Muhoozi as a “standby generator” waiting to take over from President Museveni.
Sports State Minister Peter Ogwang appealed to the people to rally behind Muhoozi, saying he was the protector of the achievements and gains of the NRM.
Rwotlonyo confirmed he will continue mobilising support for the PLU agenda in Amolatar and across Lango, urging fellow leaders to set an example by joining voluntarily.
“The people of Lango must have a seat at the table,” he said. “We cannot leave politics to chance. The decisions made in Kampala affect our health centres, our schools, our farmers. We must be part of the conversation—freely and willingly.”
He added a final appeal to leaders across the sub-region: “Let us not wait to be pushed. Let us lead from the front. Join the PLU, and let us build the Uganda our children deserve.”
As the crowd dispersed from Mayor’s Garden, the message from Amolatar’s RDC was clear: the PLU is not a threat to the NRM but a reinforcement of it, and Lango residents should embrace it without fear.
