UPC delegates extend Akena’s presidency by 12 months

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The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) delegates conference has renewed and extended Jimmy Akena’s presidency for another 12 months, making him the automatic presidential flag bearer in the 2026 general elections.

During a hybrid delegates conference on Saturday, July 26, attended by about 800 delegates from across the country, members resolved to extend Akena’s presidency for a further 12 months with immediate effect.

The delegates agreed to extend Akena’s tenure to allow him and his party cabinet to organise and oversee the conduct of the party structure and national elections.

On July 18, Justice Bernard Namanya ruled and prohibited Akena from contesting for the 2026–2031 presidency on the UPC party ticket.

According to Justice Namanya, Akena had already served two full terms as per the UPC constitution article 14(1)3. Under this constitution, a president is limited to two five-year terms unless they become President of Uganda during their second term.

Shortly after the ruling, Akena welcomed the decision and called for an extraordinary delegates conference, his last line of defence. However, in a surprise turn of events, the party’s electoral commission chairperson, Hajji Mahmood Kazimbiraine, disqualified Denis Adim Enap from running as the party’s presidential candidate.

In a statement, Kazimbiraine noted that under article 21 of the UPC constitution (as amended in 2008) and article 71 clause l(c) of the Constitution of Uganda (as amended), the Party Electoral Commission (PEC) is mandated to receive credentials for verification from prospective candidates for the party presidency and issue them Application/Declaration of Interest Forms. These are then used to seek nomination from the District Conferences in accordance with article 11.2(6) of the UPC constitution.

Kazimbiraine further noted that under article 13.2(5) of the party constitution, the delegates conference is the supreme organ of the party with full powers to elect the party president, who shall be the leader and flag bearer in a general election.

However, Kazimbiraine said the electoral commission was shocked to learn that Enap had declared himself unopposed as the party president on May 2, 2025.

“The party electoral commission is in possession of a letter by Enap where he raises issues of irregularities in the nomination process and where he claims to be nominated unopposed for party president, the title he doesn’t qualify for at the moment,” Kazimbiraine said.

He added that the party also holds misleading letters from Enap alleging that the court had disqualified Akena and declared him (Enap) president unopposed.

“Enap has grossly violated the electoral roadmap, guidelines and the party constitution 2008 as amended. He is hereby disqualified as an aspiring candidate from the process of election of the UPC party president,” Kazimbiraine said.

At the delegates' conference, members also suspended the application of articles 25.2 and 25.3 of the UPC constitution (2008 as amended), which require a three-month notice to the secretary general for any constitutional amendment proposed by a member, and a one-month notice if the party president is the initiator, before presentation to the delegates' conference for consideration.

The delegates further agreed that UPC should remain and continue to be a member of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD), where it will handle all matters with sister political parties as provided for under the Political Parties and Organisations Act, Cap.178.

Last week, Akena relieved Fred Ebil, the party secretary general, and three electoral commission commissioners of their duties with immediate effect.

The commissioners sacked by Akena include Jack Kabusu, Emmanuel Were Magero and Naome Natukunda.

In his remarks, Akena said many of his staff had failed to understand that the party is trying to deliver a message of hope to Ugandans, adding that party members are spending their time quarrelling with each other.

“Do we know where we are and what we are doing? As the country is looking for hope and direction, UPC leaders want to tire themselves apart and do not know what they are supposed to do.

I want to make it clear that the threat and the future of UPC is not in the back seat but the front seat. I will specifically be assigning specific duties to people and after a lengthy discussion with the party secretary general, we have agreed to part ways ahead of the 2026 general elections,” Akena said.

Akena noted that under the party constitution, the party president is entitled to appoint members of the party's electoral commission. He added that some commissioner names had been presented to him and were appointed accordingly.

“As of yesterday, I decided to revoke my trust and confidence in Kabusi, Magero and Natukunda as party electoral commission commissioners with immediate effect for overstepping their mark and engaging in matters that do not concern them.

Sorry, step aside,” Akena said.