Otunnu denounces Akena election victory

By Umaru Kashaka  

KAMPALA - The storm over Jimmy Akena's win in the recent district conference elections is not yet over at Uganda House, the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) party headquarters.

The out-going party president Dr Olara Otunnu has joined his deputy Joseph Bbosa and the party national chairman, Prof Edward Kakonge in denouncing Akena’s presidential election victory as illegitimate.

Akena, who is also Lira Municipality MP, was declared winner by UPC's electoral commission chairman John Buzu on Monday after securing majority votes of endorsement from district delegates for the party's presidency.

The late Milton Obote's son was endorsed by 67 districts, David Pulkol (former head of external security organization) by 12, while UPC's vice-president Joseph Bbosa only 11 districts.

Since UPC constitution says the party president is elected from candidates approved by majority vote of at least a third of all district conferences, meaning that a candidate needs endorsement from at least 37 districts, Akena's name will be the only one EC will forward to the delegates conference if the election is not annulled.

The delegates' conference scheduled for June 12 will then approve Akena as UPC president and party flag bearer for the 2016 presidential election. 

One of those baying for Akena's blood is Bbosa. He dismissed the vote as marred by irregularities and said he and party national chairman, Edward Kakonge had already petitioned the party's electoral body over the matter.

Bbosa said that in some districts such as Kanungu, Mayuge and Kabale, UPC members complained about malpractices. 

He also said the party's EC considered only 66 districts out of the 112 in the country.
 

A joyful Akena (far-left) sings along with other party members in Soroti recently. (Credit: Godfrey Ojore)

Akena is set to replace his archrival. Olara Otunnu who said he would not be seeking reelection.

The former United Nations undersecretary-general for children and armed conflict said that he was planning to devote all his political energies and attention to the central project of effecting democratic change in the country.

UPC dominated Ugandan politics from independence until 1971 when Obote was overthrown by Idi Amin.

The party returned to power under Obote in 1980 until he was overthrown again in 1985 by Tito Okello.

Critics have accused the Obote family of converting the party into a family firm, saying the move will weaken democracy within UPC.



Also related to this story

Eight UPC candidates fail to qualify

Akena okayed for UPC party presidency

'My dad had no money to send me to university'

Akena is not an S.2 dropout - UPC boss