Akena, Dennis Adim, to hustle for UPC presidency

22 May 2025, 10:59 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

In preparations for 2026 general elections, Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) Party, has today nominated members who will contest for the party’s presidency. Speaking to Journalists at the party headquarters in Kampala, the party chairman for electoral Commission, Hajji Kazimbiraine Mahmoud urged the two candidates to front party’s agenda not for for individuals, saying that despite of them being candidates, they are not at any point enemies to each other. These are Dennis Adim Enap and the incumbent Hon. Jimmy Akena.

“On 28th April 2025, we, as the party Electoral Commission (PEC) released the UPC Roadmap for 2025/2026 which included the call for expression of interest for the position of the party president. The period for picking and returning of the Application/Declaration of interest form for the said office was from 5th to 20th May 2025. We would like to inform the entire membership and general public that three Parties expressed interest and picked forms namely; Hon. Jimmy Akena, Dennis Adim Enap and Moses Higenyi Kemba. By close of business of the exercise, only two returned the forms, Hon. Jimmy Akena and Dennis Adim Enap,” he said.

The chairman continued to express that as the commission, held a meeting on 21st May 2025, and reviewed the applications of the aspiring candidates and the PEC satisfactory found out that they had all the necessary requirements and therefore nominated them for the office of the UPC presidency. “We would like to congratulate the two members upon being nominated as candidates for the office of the Party president,” he said. The party will have various activities on levels such as regional, Village and national, starting on 11th June 2025 for PEC meeting with stakeholders in Lango region and finally hold elections of the district/city executive and nomination of the party presidential candidate on 3rd July 2025.

According to the chairman, the schedule for the elections of the party president who will have attained at least one third of all District Conferences in the whole country as per article 11.2 (6) of the party constitution, will be issued by notice. The two candidates who have expressed interest in leading the party, have thanked the party Electoral Commission for organizing the process, and both assured their supporters that they are emerging winners. It should be noted that UPC last had a national presidential candidate in 2011 and this was Miria Kalule Obote.