Africa-Press – Uganda. Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) President Jimmy Akena has accused the Uganda Police Force of deliberately sabotaging the party’s internal electoral process by blocking its planned National Delegates Conference, scheduled for this Saturday, citing a lack of manpower.
Speaking to the media at the party headquarters in Kampala , Akena said state agencies were obstructing efforts to convene the party’s highest decision-making body.
“The essence of the ruling was that I remain the president of UPC, but I am not allowed to be the party’s candidate in the 2026 election,” Akena said.
“In response, I called for the Delegates Conference to allow the party to determine its next steps,”he added.
Akena said formal notifications were sent to the Inspector General of Police, the Ministers of Internal Affairs and Justice, and the Electoral Commission regarding the planned meeting.
However, he claims he was later asked to personally collect a letter from police headquarters informing him that the conference could not proceed due to “security exigencies.”
“I find it ironic that the police claim to lack manpower to secure a peaceful delegates’ meeting, yet they always deploy in full force to block political gatherings in Kampala. This contradiction speaks volumes,” Akena said.
Despite the setback, Akena vowed that the party would continue its mobilization efforts through a decentralized approach.
He announced plans to hold town hall meetings at the district level and broadcast key proceedings online.
“We’ll organize smaller gatherings across the country and stream the Delegates Conference live on various platforms. This will ensure we stay connected with our members despite obstruction from the powers that be,” he added.
Akena emphasized that UPC remains committed to repositioning itself ahead of the 2026 elections and will not be distracted by what he described as politically motivated interference.
Akena, who is serving his third term as UPC president, has been at the center of legal battles over his leadership and eligibility to run again.
On July 18, 2025, the High Court in Kampala declared his nomination for a third term illegal, null, and void, citing a breach of the party’s constitution.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Bernard Namanya, followed a legal challenge filed by UPC member Dennis Adim Enap, who argued that Akena had already served the maximum two terms allowed under Article 14.1(3) of the UPC Constitution.
The provision limits a party president to two five-year terms, unless they become President of Uganda during their second term—a condition Akena does not meet.
Akena was first elected in 2015, served until 2020, and was re-elected for a second term from 2020 to 2025.
His supporters had argued that his first term should not count because it was nullified by court.
However, Justice Namanya ruled that Akena effectively served the full term due to an interim stay granted by the Court of Appeal.
The decision has further deepened divisions within UPC leadership as the party prepares for the 2026 elections.
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