UPC Parliamentary Caucus Reaffirms Jimmy Akena as Leader

20 July 2026, 10:33 pm

By Editorial

The Uganda People’s Congress Parliamentary Caucus has strongly reaffirmed Hon. Jimmy Akena as the legitimate President of the Party.

The UPC Parliamentary Committee has firmly reaffirmed Hon. Jimmy Akena as the legitimate and incumbent President of the Party. This declaration follows recent pronouncements by officials of the Patriotic League of Uganda, PLU, who sought to impose alternative leadership on UPC.

Speaking after the caucus meeting at Parliament on 20th July 2026, Dr. Eunice Apio Otuko, Member of Parliament for Oyam County North and UPC Whip in the 12th Parliament, delivered a strong statement emphasizing party unity and constitutional order. She explained that UPC members convened to deliberate on pressing issues affecting the party and to strengthen its internal structures.

Dr. Apio revealed that the committee extensively discussed PLU’s claims of rejecting Jimmy Akena’s leadership and its suggestion to install Denish Adim Emap as UPC president. She clarified that the caucus strongly rejected these assertions, issuing a stern caution that Akena remains the legitimate president of UPC. She stressed that UPC is governed by its constitution and laws, which do not permit external groups to interfere in ways that weaken the party’s foundation.

In her address, Dr. Apio urged PLU to respect UPC, reminding Ugandans that the party is not an ordinary political organization but one that played a pivotal role in shaping Uganda’s future and guiding the nation toward independence. She appealed directly to Denish Adim Emap to respect UPC’s structures and leadership, reiterating that Jimmy Akena, son of former President Apollo Milton Obote, continues to serve as the rightful president of the party.

The Committee declared that only the UPC Constitution and the Political Parties and Organizations Act, 2005, provide the lawful framework for electing or changing party leadership. It emphasized that no individual, pressure group, or external organization has authority to appoint or impose leaders on UPC. Under Article 13 of the UPC Constitution, only the incumbent Party President has the constitutional mandate to convene a Delegates’ Conference for leadership elections. Any attempt to proclaim or install leaders outside this process was described as unconstitutional, invalid, and of no legal effect.

In its resolution, the caucus called upon all UPC members to remain united, pursue grievances through lawful democratic mechanisms, and reject actions intended to undermine the party’s constitutional structures and democratic traditions. The Committee further urged all individuals, organizations, institutions, and arms of Government to respect the constitutional rights, independence, vision, and mission of UPC. It pledged the party’s continued commitment to constitutionalism, internal democracy, the rule of law, peace, unity, and the orderly discharge of public responsibilities.

The statement was signed by the UPC Parliamentary Committee, comprising:
Hon. Eunice Otuko Apio, Whip, Oyam County North
Hon. Ocen Geoffrey, Kioga North
Hon. Auma Kenny, DWR Kwania
Hon. Obong Peter Acuda, Maruzi County
Hon. Aguti Sarah, DWR Dokolo
Hon. Obong Vincent Shedrick, Lira West Division
Hon. Auma Janet, DWR Amolatar
Hon. Opilo Vincent, Dokolo South
Hon. Angwec Colline, Kioga County
Hon. Elem Leo, Moroto County
Hon. Jalameso Fred, Ajuri County
Hon. Alum Santa Sandra, DWR Oyam