There were mixed reactions on Sunday morning when Dr Ruth Acheng declared her intention to run for political office as the Woman Member of Parliament for Lira district in next year’s general elections.
Acheng announced her intention to run for the post while in Lira district. Acheng said that her decision to run for MP is on the basis of the demands by the people of Lira and Lango sub-region in general.
“For over 2 years, the people of Lango have been asking questions and wondering whether I will take up a political position to stand. Many have asked similar questions and pothers have encouraged me to take up a political position,” Dr Aceng said.
“I want to appreciate the people of Lango for love and support. Most of all, for the prayers. They prayed for me when I worked here for over 15 years. We lived among them and they loved us,” she added.
Acheng also revealed that the same people of Lango gave her a lot of blessings when she was appointed by President Yoweri Museveni as Director General of Health Services in the Ministry of Health in 2011 and later as Minister of Health.
“I’m confident that I have not let the people of Lango down. That the work I have been doing has pleased them. That’s why they have been asking questions and encouraging me”.
“Today, I want to declare openly that I’m taking up a political position as the representative of women in Lira district and I will contest for that position,” she said.
Acheng will be vying to unseat UPC’s Joy Atim Ongom who is the current woman Mp for Kira Municipality.
Who is Acheng?
Aceng is a 52-year-old Ugandan Health Minister who has served since June 2016. Prior to that, she was Director-General of Medical Services. Acheng also served as executive director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital.
She also served as a member of the board of Uganda National Medical Stores, the pharmaceutical procurement and distribution arm of the health ministry, from 2005 until 2016.
Born in 1968, Aceng attended Shimoni Primary School in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. She studied at Nabisunsa Girls Secondary School for both her Ordinary and Advanced Level education where she excelled with flying colours and later joined Makerere University.
At Makerere University, Acheng Pursued a Bachelors in Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, a Master of Medicine in Pediatrics, and a Master of Public Health. Acheng also holds a Diploma in Health Systems Management awarded by the Galilee International Management Institute, in Israel.