Campaigns for 2026 should be in a free atmosphere — Akena

_________________

Uganda People's Congress (UPC) party leader Jimmy Akena has condemned the violent episodes witnessed during the ongoing presidential campaigns, with the general election a little over a month away.

He was especially critical of "those involved in breaking the law and undermining the democratic electoral processes".

The son of former Ugandan president Apollo Milton Obote said those lawbreakers need to recognise that it was "an uphill task" to restore multiparty politics in Uganda.

Prior to the 2005 multiparty referendum, political parties had been banned from partaking in elections for close to two decades in a bid to stem sectarian friction.

Addressing a press conference at the UPC headquarters in Kampala on Wednesday (December 10), Akena appealed against political violence.

He himself failed to get nominated to run for president following internal party conflicts over UPC's top leadership. Akena had hoped to feature on next year's presidential ballot paper, just like his mother and former First Lady, Miria Obote, did in the 2006 election.

He told reporters that the UPC was a champion of the return of multiparty politics in Uganda and that the party's cherished spirit for that restoration still holds.

However, he added, with the recent clashes involving some candidates and security agencies, Ugandan democracy is at a crossroads.

He said electoral violence undermines the rule of law, constitutionalism, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and democracy.

Akena claimed that the 2016 electoral reforms by the Supreme Court and the subsequent proposals from political parties and civil society that sought to harmonise Uganda's democratic processes have been deliberately ignored.

“The presence of the army and the Police with their high-handedness on civilians is raising serious concerns about our electoral process," he said.

National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi has been involved in confrontations with security agencies, especially over routes to use on his campaign trail.

While the two-time presidential candidate has repeatedly claimed that the security agencies are out to frustrate his campaigns, they, on the contrary, say the NUP leader sometimes fails to use the agreed-upon routes, sparking chaotic scenes.

'Free atmosphere'

In his comments, Akena said the use of "excessive use of force, ugly scenes and brutality" is "totally unacceptable and has to be condemned by all".

In October, Akena hosted Kyagulanyi at his ancestral home in Akokoro, Apac district, as the NUP presidential candidate campaigned in the Lango sub-region.

"The national campaigns for 2026 should be in a free atmosphere. As UPC, we are committed to holding our campaigns and delivering our issue-based message lawfully and peacefully," said Akena.

Campaigns for UPC candidates kicked off in the Teso sub-region at the end of November, following the party president's launch of the UPC Special Fundraising Drive on November 26.

Akena urged party members, friends and well-wishers to rally behind their candidates as the 2026 general election inches closer.