UPC's Jimmy Akena still hopeful of winning the presidency

The Uganda People's Congress (UPC) party president, Jimmy Akena says he postponed plans to contest for Uganda's top office to 2026.

In 2016, Akena told voters in Lira Municipality that he would contest for presidency in this year's general election.

Voters have been asking Akena, who is contesting for the Lira City East MP seat, why he is not on the presidential ballot paper.

Addressing voters, mainly members of the business community on Monday at Little Flowers Nursery School in Lira City, Akena said he wants to be president of Uganda and that he is preparing for it.

"I will continue to move ahead with constructive engagement with all political players," Akena, the son of former president Milton Obote, said.

Akena said some people mistake his politics, think he either left UPC or that he is a coward, but he said that is not true.

Kony factor

"Which coward would go to the bush to see the Lord's Resistance Army rebel leader, Joseph Kony?" he asked.

Akena was part of the delegation that went to the bush to meet Kony during the Juba peace talks between 2006-2008. The talks were over the terms of a ceasefire and possible peace agreement. He said he put his journey in the hands of God.

"We have been wandering about; we are almost reaching 40 years, like the children of Israel, who wondered in the wilderness, busy attacking themselves," he said.

Akena said he believes he will someday get to State House.

"I know it was not possible in 2021 but 2026, we must open the way," Akena said.

"I do not want to be begging for development, but to be directing for development so that our quality health care and education stop being a slogan but a rule, which the Government must follow," he explained.

Belief in peace

Akena said a lot of lies are being made against him on radio, but as a politician who does not like quarrels, he is not going to retaliate.

"I would better allow my work to show what I am doing. If you quarrel with people who are taking you nowhere, you will be a fool," he said.

Akena said he is willing to talk to anybody. He said his political history started with talking to Kony, whom he had no connection with.

"He was not my friend, but what he was holding was a key to peace," Akena said.

"I wanted a solution but this could not come by quarrelling, talking on radio or accusing someone," Akena said, clarifying why he engages President Yoweri Museveni on development issues. Despite leading an Opposition party, Akena's wife, Betty Amongi, is Museveni's minister for Kampala and metropolitan affairs.

Previously, she was the minister for lands, housing and urban development.

Akena said some politicians, even those in NRM, want to cheapen him even when he is promoting development.

"Is it a crime to go to the President when I want development?" Akena asked.

He added that some NRM members can take a year without seeing the President, but for him, he has nurtured his politics and can meet anybody when he wants to.

Akena is contesting for Lira City together with James Ocen, Moses Otyang, Isaac Ongom, Patrick Aroma, Patrick Rolex Akena and Apollo Onyango.

One voter raised concern about the deteriorating insecurity in Lira city and appealed to Akena to bring this to the Government's attention.