Patricia Amere Aceng, an independent NRM-leaning candidate, had officially dropped out of the Lira City Woman parliamentary race.

Aceng was competing against Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, the NRM candidate and Lira City party chairperson, and her Uganda People’s Congress-UPC rival and Gender and Labour Minister Betty Amongi Akena.

In a letter addressed to the Electoral Commission chairperson, Aceng said her decision was motivated by a desire to uphold the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s unity, harmony, and collective progress.

She adds that the decision was guided by a commitment to safeguard party values, avoid divisions among supporters, and present a united front in the upcoming elections.

James Ipeto, the Lira City Returning Officer, confirms receipt of Aceng’s withdrawal letter, noting that her request has been approved.

Addressing circulating claims on social media that she was “bought out” of the race by her NRM opponent, Patricia Aceng dismissed the allegations as false.

Last month, Aceng had formally petitioned the Electoral Commission to investigate and sanction Jane Aceng and her agents over a “defamatory” video circulating on social media.

In the video, Jane Aceng, while launching her campaign to retain the Lira City Woman MP seat, warned voters against what she called the “fake Aceng” and urged them to vote for the “original” Aceng—herself—whose ballot symbol is a yellow bus.

Patricia Aceng said the speech negatively affected her candidacy by tarnishing her public image and eroding trust among voters.