Africa-Press – Uganda. The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has unveiled its 2026 election manifesto, pledging to rebuild the economy, restore justice, and create an inclusive Uganda free from corruption and inequality.
However, the launch, held in Lira City, was dominated by a fiery speech from party president Jimmy Akena, who accused President Yoweri Museveni of deceiving the people of northern Uganda over the long-standing cattle compensation issue.
Akena, who also serves as Member of Parliament for Lira City East Division, said the manifesto is rooted in truth, justice, and accountability—values he claimed the current government has abandoned.
“Every election, the president comes with the same lie of compensation. The total loss affecting our communities is in trillions. Lives were destroyed in the camps, and yet the rightful claimants have never received what they deserve,” Akena said.
He said the people of northern Uganda, who lost thousands of cattle during the insurgency, have endured decades of betrayal under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government, which he accused of using their suffering as a political bargaining tool.
“Every election season, Museveni promises to pay compensation. But year after year, our people are left with nothing. These are deliberate lies told for political survival,” Akena added during the launch.
The UPC president urged party candidates to boldly confront such injustices, describing the 2026 elections as a turning point for Ugandans seeking truth and equality.
“You candidates must capitalize on the issues affecting the locals. Be bold, be direct, and speak the truth to power,” he charged. “Our mission today is to ensure the next generation enjoys this Uganda. We must work hard to ensure there are no second-class citizens in this country.”
Akena said the UPC manifesto offers practical solutions to Uganda’s long-standing challenges, including unemployment, poor service delivery, and corruption. He said the party will focus on economic empowerment, revitalizing agriculture, and ensuring access to quality healthcare and education.
He also promised that a UPC-led government would prioritize compensation for war-affected families and restore livelihoods in regions that have long been marginalized.
“UPC stands for fairness and equality,” Akena said. “We will rebuild what has been broken and ensure that no Ugandan is left behind.”
The launch, attended by party flag bearers and candidates from across the country, also served as a rallying call for the revitalization of UPC’s political identity—a party that once dominated Uganda’s post-independence politics under the leadership of Dr. Apollo Milton Obote.
Akena, son of the late Obote, said the time had come for the party to reclaim its historical role as a force for unity and national development.
“The dream of our forefathers was a country that belongs to all of us, not a few,” he said. “We are here to finish what they started—a Uganda where justice, equality, and dignity are not privileges but rights.”
He accused the ruling government of creating a system that benefits a small elite while the majority of Ugandans continue to live in poverty.
“For nearly 40 years, we have seen promises recycled, the same speeches repeated, and the same excuses made,” Akena said. “Our people are tired. They deserve better.”
Akena pledged to lead from the front in the 2026 campaigns despite what he described as growing intimidation and arrests targeting opposition leaders.
“I am ready for change,” he declared. “Some of us are being threatened, and we have colleagues who are being jailed, but we shall not give up. Uganda belongs to all of us, not to a few individuals.”
The UPC leader said his party’s manifesto will be implemented through practical, community-based programs aimed at addressing real needs rather than political rhetoric. Among the key priorities outlined are the revival of cooperatives, rural industrialization, and strengthening local governments to improve service delivery.
He also emphasized the need to restore trust between the government and citizens by ensuring accountability and transparency in public institutions.
“UPC believes in leadership that listens to the people, not leadership that uses power to silence them,” Akena said. “We are building a movement for truth, fairness, and shared prosperity.”
Joyce Akello, the UPC flag bearer for the Kaberamaido District Woman MP seat, said the manifesto gives hope to a population that has lost confidence in government promises.
“What Akena said reflects what our people go through daily,” Akello said. “In my constituency, families who lost cattle during the war are still struggling to recover. This manifesto speaks directly to their pain and calls for real action.”
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