Gulu, Uganda – April 17, 2025
Kilak South Member of Parliament Gilbert Olanya has clarified that the recent collaboration between opposition legislators from the Acholi Sub-region and the government was initiated by the state, not the MPs.
His remarks follow rising public concern and speculation over the intentions behind the emerging alliance.In an interview with Uganda Radio Network (URN), Olanya revealed that the government, through the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) under Gen Salim Saleh, approached opposition MPs seeking their views on development needs in the Acholi sub-region.“We were approached by the government. It was not our initiative,” Olanya stated, emphasizing that the MPs’ participation should not be misconstrued as political surrender but rather a response to an opportunity to address the region’s long-standing challenges.His comments come in the wake of a controversial meeting held on March 13 at State House, Entebbe, where selected opposition MPs met President Yoweri Museveni and agreed to cooperate with the government to uplift the socio-economic conditions of Acholi.
The meeting triggered criticism from some constituents who feared the MPs were abandoning their oversight role.Contrary to Olanya’s assertions, Chua West MP Okin PP Ojara, who also chairs the Acholi Opposition Bloc, dismissed claims that the cooperation was government-led. Okin insisted that the initiative was homegrown, conceived by opposition MPs keen on making the region more relevant in Uganda’s national development agenda.“There is nothing wrong with working with the government on issues that benefit our people. This was our initiative,” Okin told URN.According to sources, the cooperation, now documented under the code name Operation Harmony, began late last year, involving ten opposition MPs—two of whom have since joined the ruling NRM party.During a recent consultative meeting, Bardege-Layibi Division MP Martin Ojara Mapenduzi explained that Operation Harmony was based on extensive reflections by MPs on the region’s challenges and government response over time.“The idea was born out of our own reflections. We identified key issues, developed a draft document, and took the first step to engage Gen Salim Saleh due to his strategic influence,” Mapenduzi said.
The MPs launched a series of consultations on Monday to gather public input on the Operation Harmony draft document.
The finalized version is expected to be presented to President Museveni in May.The document outlines urgent development priorities for Acholi, including poverty reduction, resolution of land conflicts, improvement of health and education services, and tackling youth unemployment.
Despite differing accounts of its origin, both camps agree on one thing: the region's development must take precedence over political rivalry.
