EXIT WITH EXCUSES? Cabinet Casualty Omona Defends Performance In Northern Uganda After M7 Axe
Former Presidential Private Secretary Kenneth Omona’s journey through the corridors of power has taken yet another dramatic twist.
Once one of President Yoweri Museveni’s trusted aides at State House, Omona was later moved from the powerful position of Presidential Private Secretary and handed a ministerial appointment as State Minister for Northern Uganda Rehabilitation. Now, just two years later, he has found himself out of Cabinet following the latest government reshuffle.
Yet even as he exits, Omona is not leaving quietly.
The outgoing minister is vigorously defending his record, insisting he leaves office with his head high after what he describes as an “incredible two years of service” to Northern Uganda. His removal has raised eyebrows among some observers who are asking a simple question: if he performed so well, why was he dropped?
Dr. Omona, who was appointed to the docket in March 2024, was replaced by Beatrice Akello in President Museveni’s latest Cabinet shake-up. However, the political blow was softened by his appointment to diplomatic service, with government preparing to deploy him as Uganda’s ambassador.
Reflecting on his tenure, Omona painted a picture of a region that was in crisis when he took office. According to him, Northern Uganda was battling land disputes, poverty, food insecurity, environmental destruction and tensions involving migrant cattle keepers commonly known as Balaalo.
“I came at a time of crisis. There were conflicts between communities and migrant cattle keepers, land disputes, poverty, food insecurity, and environmental degradation that needed urgent intervention,” Omona said.
The former minister pointed to the implementation of President Museveni’s executive orders as one of his proudest achievements. He said government aggressively tackled uncontrolled charcoal burning, land wrangles and the controversial Balaalo issue that had generated anger and tension across several districts.
According to Omona, one of the biggest milestones was the eviction of approximately 70,000 head of cattle from Northern Uganda during an operation jointly conducted by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and the police.
“As I speak now, government has already evicted about 70,000 head of cattle from Northern Uganda. The population is now more peaceful, settled and able to farm,” he said.
Despite claiming progress, Omona admitted that trouble spots remain. He singled out Apaa, where land ownership disputes continue to generate tension, with residents raising concerns about alleged collaboration between some security personnel and land grabbers.
Even so, Omona maintained that significant gains had been made. He estimated that government had already achieved between 60 and 70 percent of the objectives contained in the presidential directives aimed at restoring order in the region.
He also claimed that environmental conservation efforts had yielded results, saying uncontrolled charcoal burning had reduced by nearly 80 percent in some parts of Northern Uganda.
On security matters, Omona said cattle raids that once terrorised communities in Acholi had largely been defeated, although isolated incidents involving armed cattle thieves from Karamoja continue to occur.
But perhaps the achievement he speaks about most proudly is coffee.
Omona said he championed coffee growing as a weapon against poverty and successfully mobilised government support worth Shs65 billion to boost production across Northern Uganda. The funding, he said, was earmarked for farmer training, distribution of coffee seedlings, micro-irrigation systems and strengthening the entire coffee value chain.
He argued that coffee farming, together with livestock production, has the potential to transform household incomes and permanently change the economic fortunes of the region.
As questions continue swirling about his removal, Omona remains publicly loyal to the President.
Rather than expressing disappointment, he described his appointment to diplomatic service as a sign of confidence from Museveni.
“The President knows what he is doing. His choices are never haphazard. Wherever I am deployed, I serve diligently,” Omona said.
He also expressed confidence in his successor, Beatrice Akello Akori, urging her to work with all stakeholders and continue efforts aimed at transforming and pacifying Northern Uganda.
“Work with everybody, focus on the people’s interests, and continue the transformation and pacification of Northern Uganda,” he advised.
Outside government, Omona’s supporters have rushed to defend his record.
Peter Opika Opoka, coordinator of the Grassroot Transitional Justice Working Group in Kitgum Municipality, praised the outgoing minister for maintaining close contact with ordinary people throughout his tenure.
Opoka described Omona as a natural diplomat who distinguished himself by frequently travelling into communities and listening to people’s concerns firsthand.
“Omona worked very hard, particularly in going down to learn how people suffered in Northern Uganda and how they could get solutions to their problems,” Opoka said.
According to Opoka, Omona’s previous experience within the National Resistance Movement and State House gave him direct access to the President, enabling him to effectively communicate regional concerns to the highest levels of government.
“I commend him for his hard work going down to the people. Being a diplomat by nature, he was able to gather firsthand information and push for solutions,” Opoka added.
Omona’s exit marks the end of another chapter in a career that has seen him move from State House to Cabinet and now toward diplomatic service.
He is one of two ministers from the Acholi sub-region who were dropped during Museveni’s latest reshuffle. The other casualty was Henry Okello Oryem, the long-serving Foreign Affairs minister who had held ministerial office since 2004 and was among the most experienced figures in government.
For now, Omona insists he delivered results. His supporters agree. But as he prepares for his next assignment abroad, the political question remains hanging in the air across Northern Uganda: if the man performed as well as he claims, why did the axe fall?
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