West Nile Leaders Demand Former MP Atima Lee Jackson Butti and Hon. Joanne Okia Appointed Ministers for Inclusion.

By Abraham Lincolns | Kampala

Various political, youths, and religious groups from West Nile are demanding a greater share of ministerial posts to ensure better representation and inclusion in government.

Leaders demand that there is need for a more frequently balanced geographical distribution of influential cabinet offices with devoted leaders like Atima Lee Jackson Butti, the regional coordinator for Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) and the Madi-Okoro Woman MP who is also doubling as the regional female PLU leader.

Mr. Munduni Rose, a member of Arua chambers of commerce directly asked the president and the CDF Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba to accord Atima Lee Jackson with a ministerial post having served and voted the best regional NRM chief whip in the just concluded 11th Parliament.

“Atima is a dedicated great NRM mobiliser who is highly Educated, connected and has the best grassroot network in West Nile, and with is ministerial appointment PLU and NRM would never regret because his skills to brand his party is acceptable by all categories of the members of the public from West Nile” Rose Munduni pointed out.

According to Munduni , Atima Lee took much of his time traversing the entire region of West Nile mobilising and soliciting support for NRM and PLU mandate something that gave chance to his FDC opponent to throw him out of Parliament with a meagre difference.

“Mr. Museveni and Gen. Muhoozi should consider and appoint their loyal son Atima Lee because he committed his entire campaigning time traversing all the districts of West Nile introducing PLU core values and objectives, mobilising and soliciting support for NRM/PLU candidates something that gave room for the FDC candidate to throw Atima out of Parliament with a very small margin “, Munduni asserted.

Mr. Draecado Ceasor Trinity, one of the opinion leaders in Arua central city division noted that besides being one of the strongholds of NRM and PLU in the region, Atima’s performance on ground is tangible ranging from changing livelihoods of his community through women and youth groups, scholarships, talent development among others.

“If government appoints and retained Atima, it would be the best gift to the people of West Nile because his performance is still felt on ground where he drastically changed livelihoods in the community through women and youth groups, scholarships, talent development among others”,Draecado added.

Amatu Mbitri, chairperson Arua city boda boda association added that Atima together with Hon. Okia Joanne ‘s style of leadership and mobilisation tactics are quite unique compared to other leaders in the region to the extent that locals have changed their negative feelings towards the ruling NRM party resulting to minimal opposition in the region.

“Once the duo is assigned with ministerial roles, opposition shall diminish in thin air  because of their style of leadership and mobilization tactics which are unique and incomparable with other leaders”, Amatu said.

However, voters also suggested that because of region’s unique challenges, the executive should consider establishing a specific ministry for West Nille affairs to help manage and address community issues suggesting that one of their own also serve them well .

Commonly known as Atime Lee Jackson, he is a Ugandan politician and a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Arua Central Division in Arua City in the 11thParliament on the NRM ticket. On addition to his parliamentary roles, he served as the Government Regional Whip in charge West Nile region.

While in Parliament, he also served on the Finance Committee, the Physical Infrastructure Committee, and the Public Accounts (Central Government) Committee.

Atima is highly active in local development and regularly advocates for youth, women, farmers, and the business community in West Nile.

Whileas Joanne Okia is the Ugandan politician from the rulig National resistance movement (NRM) party who hails from Madi -Okollo district, she represented her voters in 2021 general election unopposed and retained her seat in the January 2026 general elections.