Politics
Akena rallies UPC MPs to speak for Ugandans
Akena noted that the party's ability to survive years of internal disputes and external pressures demonstrated that UPC remained “resilient, persistent and not ready to surrender at any cost or under any circumstance.”
The Uganda People's Congress (UPC) president, Jimmy Akena (2nd left), in a group photo with other party members, after addressing a virtual extraordinary meeting of the UPC National Council from the party headquarters at Uganda House in Kampala on Saturday, June 13, 2026. (Credit: Nelson Kiva)
By: Nelson Kiva, Journalist @New Vision
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The Uganda People's Congress (UPC) president, Jimmy Akena, has asked his party members elected to parliament to remain resilient despite a series of legal, political and electoral setbacks that stopped the party from fielding a candidate in the 2026 presidential elections.
Addressing a virtual extraordinary meeting of the UPC National Council from the party headquarters at Uganda House in Kampala on Saturday, June 13, 2026, Akena praised party members for standing firm through what he described as one of the most difficult periods in the party's recent history.
“For what we have gone through and how we have persevered to reach this point in June 2026, the journey has not been easy. The challenges have been numerous, but by standing together and supporting one another, we have been able to prevail,” Akena said.
He added that the party's ability to survive years of internal disputes and external pressures demonstrated that UPC remained “resilient, persistent and not ready to surrender at any cost or under any circumstance.”
The UPC leader used the meeting to rally the party's newly elected legislators to become an effective voice for ordinary Ugandans in the 12th Parliament.
“Honourable Members of Parliament, the nation will be looking at you on the floor of the House. You will be faced with many challenges and will be rated against others who have been there before on the UPC ticket,” he said.
Akena challenged the legislators to uphold the party's long-standing tradition of accountability and scrutiny of government decisions.
“We expect you to keep that spirit and that vigour on the floor of Parliament. Do not allow things that are not straight to pass through. Speak for the people of Uganda and ensure their concerns are heard,” he said.
The remarks by Akena come at a time when UPC is seeking to rebuild its political relevance despite internal divisions that have repeatedly spilled into courtrooms.
The UPC leader used the meeting to rally the party's newly elected legislators to become an effective voice for ordinary Ugandans in the 12th Parliament.
“Honourable Members of Parliament, the nation will be looking at you on the floor of the House. You will be faced with many challenges and will be rated against others who have been there before on the UPC ticket,” he said.
Akena challenged the legislators to uphold the party's long-standing tradition of accountability and scrutiny of government decisions.
“We expect you to keep that spirit and that vigour on the floor of Parliament. Do not allow things that are not straight to pass through. Speak for the people of Uganda and ensure their concerns are heard,” he said.
The remarks by Akena come at a time when UPC is seeking to rebuild its political relevance despite internal divisions that have repeatedly spilled into courtrooms.
For years, the party has been embroiled in legal disputes over leadership, constitutional interpretation and the management of party affairs.
The disagreements triggered court cases that created uncertainty over the party's structures and electoral preparations ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Akena recalled a High Court judgement delivered in July 2025, which affirmed him as president of UPC but simultaneously created complications regarding his eligibility to contest as the party's presidential candidate in the 2026 elections.
According to Akena, the interpretation of the court decision eventually became the basis upon which the Electoral Commission declined to nominate him for the presidential race.
The decision deepened tensions within the party and contributed to disagreements between UPC and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). Akena accused the NRM of being behind the move to fail his presidential bid.
He protested the development as unequal treatment of political actors and limitations on political competition.
Although some matters remain before the courts, Akena maintained that his administration continues to operate within the law and the party constitution.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that there is nothing I am doing outside the law and Constitution of Uganda,” he said.
Akena said UPC managed to field candidates across the country, albeit with limited resources and organisational constraints caused by the ongoing disputes.
“As a party, we were crippled and hamstrung, but we used whatever little resources we had in order to support our candidates,” he said.
The UPC president expressed satisfaction that the party had emerged as the third-largest political party in the 12th Parliament, a development he described as evidence that Ugandans still believe in the party's message. The UPC has 12 MPs in Parliament out of the 529 directly-elected legislators. NRM has the largest number of MPs at 373.
Akena also reflected on UPC's historical legacy, arguing that the party's past achievements continue to distinguish it in Uganda's political landscape.
He pointed to the transformative programmes implemented during UPC administrations in the 1960s and 1980s, including investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and the expansion of public institutions.
According to Akena, many of the foundations of Uganda's modern state were laid during UPC-led governments, which prioritised national unity, public service delivery and economic development. He said the party remains committed to those values despite decades out of power.
“We have a history of building Uganda and serving its people. Those principles remain relevant today,” he said.
The party national chairperson, Brenda Atim, said the gathering had been convened in accordance with the party constitution following consultations between the party president and the national chairperson under Article 12(3) of the UPC constitution.
She said the primary objective of the meeting was to initiate a broad consultative process on issues affecting the party and the wider political environment.
“The purpose of this meeting is to launch a consultative process on matters affecting the party and the political environment in which we are operating,” Atim said.
The disagreements triggered court cases that created uncertainty over the party's structures and electoral preparations ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Akena recalled a High Court judgement delivered in July 2025, which affirmed him as president of UPC but simultaneously created complications regarding his eligibility to contest as the party's presidential candidate in the 2026 elections.
According to Akena, the interpretation of the court decision eventually became the basis upon which the Electoral Commission declined to nominate him for the presidential race.
The decision deepened tensions within the party and contributed to disagreements between UPC and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). Akena accused the NRM of being behind the move to fail his presidential bid.
He protested the development as unequal treatment of political actors and limitations on political competition.
Although some matters remain before the courts, Akena maintained that his administration continues to operate within the law and the party constitution.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that there is nothing I am doing outside the law and Constitution of Uganda,” he said.
Akena said UPC managed to field candidates across the country, albeit with limited resources and organisational constraints caused by the ongoing disputes.
“As a party, we were crippled and hamstrung, but we used whatever little resources we had in order to support our candidates,” he said.
The UPC president expressed satisfaction that the party had emerged as the third-largest political party in the 12th Parliament, a development he described as evidence that Ugandans still believe in the party's message. The UPC has 12 MPs in Parliament out of the 529 directly-elected legislators. NRM has the largest number of MPs at 373.
Akena also reflected on UPC's historical legacy, arguing that the party's past achievements continue to distinguish it in Uganda's political landscape.
He pointed to the transformative programmes implemented during UPC administrations in the 1960s and 1980s, including investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and the expansion of public institutions.
According to Akena, many of the foundations of Uganda's modern state were laid during UPC-led governments, which prioritised national unity, public service delivery and economic development. He said the party remains committed to those values despite decades out of power.
“We have a history of building Uganda and serving its people. Those principles remain relevant today,” he said.
The party national chairperson, Brenda Atim, said the gathering had been convened in accordance with the party constitution following consultations between the party president and the national chairperson under Article 12(3) of the UPC constitution.
She said the primary objective of the meeting was to initiate a broad consultative process on issues affecting the party and the wider political environment.
“The purpose of this meeting is to launch a consultative process on matters affecting the party and the political environment in which we are operating,” Atim said.