Major (Rtd) Emmy Johnson Opio Speaks Out: “Lango Must Rise Above Poverty, Division, and Exploitation

Lira, Uganda – Major (Rtd) Emmy Johnson Opio has sounded a bold call to action for the Lango sub-region, urging leaders and citizens alike to confront the root causes of underdevelopment, poverty, and division that continue to plague the region. In a passionate and data-backed address, Opio laid out both the challenges and his personal blueprint for change.

A Region Left Behind: Comparing the Past and Present

“By 1985, Lango was ahead of Ankole in terms of wealth. Today, more than 95% of Langi cannot earn more than UGX 10 million annually,” Opio stated. He attributed this economic stagnation to years of mismanagement, lack of planning, and failure to embrace progressive agricultural practices.

He warned that without serious intervention, Lango risks falling further behind.

Leadership Crisis: Vision Lost to Division

Opio was direct in his criticism of the region’s political and community leadership.

“Where other tribes are focused on planning and building for the future, Lango leaders are divided, self-serving, and visionless,” he said.

He highlighted the harmful culture of jealousy and baseless accusations within the community, saying it has become a major barrier to progress.”

We pull each other down instead of lifting each other up. This is killing us,” he emphasized.

Manipulation and Exploitation of Voters

Opio also addressed the disturbing trend of electoral exploitation. According to him, some politicians in Lango deliberately keep voters poor and uninformed.

“They bribe voters with salt, soap, and waragi then abandon them. Compare this with Western Uganda, where leaders win based on development performance and strategic delivery,” Opio noted.

His Personal Response: From Agriculture to Education

Despite his critique, Opio presented a personal plan of action, saying he refuses to be a bystander.

1. Combatting Poverty:Opio is actively promoting the cultivation of cash crops like coffee, cocoa, vanilla, and kasunut, noting that even two acres of these crops could generate UGX 10–15 million annually for a farmer.

2. Promoting Education:Through partnerships with local primary schools under APS, he supports cost-sharing schemes to improve literacy and plans to establish a secondary school soon.

3. Enhancing Security:Opio is working closely with law enforcement to combat organized crime and ensure community safety.

4. Fostering Unity:Starting with war veterans, he has launched initiatives to bring together fragmented groups and encourage communal collaboration.

A Call for a New Dawn in Lango

“I know the pain of poverty. I know the price of peace. I know the value of unity. And I know that Lango can rise again—but only if we act now,” he concluded.With such a bold stance, Major Opio is setting himself apart as not just a critic but a changemaker.