UPC’s Jimmy Akena accepts court ruling, calls for delegates conference

20 July 2025, 11:42 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

Hon. Jimmy Akena, the president of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC), has confirmed he will not appeal the recent High Court ruling that barred him from contesting for another term as the party’s presidential flag bearer.

Speaking at the party headquarters in Kampala yesterday, Akena told journalists that while he will abide by the court’s decision, he is glad the court recognized him as the current party president.

“I will not appeal against the ruling of the High Court in Kampala which restrained me from seeking another term of office as Party President. However, I am happy that the court recognizes me as the president of Uganda Peoples Congress. I have now organized a delegates conference which will be held on 26th July 2025 in Oyam district. After that delegates conference, I will see what to do next. I therefore call upon all those who think that I am not supposed to run for another term to come to the delegates conference and express themselves,” Akena said.

Akena’s decision comes after a group of UPC members challenged his plan to run for a third term, arguing that the party’s constitution limits the president to only two terms.

Despite Akena’s announcement, the group that took him to court says they will not attend the delegates conference, insisting that Akena has no mandate to organize it.

“Hon. Akena has no authority to call for a delegates conference because court already ruled, now there is nothing to change. He wants delegates to give him the mandate to continue leading the party yet it is against our constitution. The Uganda Peoples Congress constitution states that the party president will only lead for two terms, yet Akena is seeking for a third term. We can’t accept that. They will hold their delegates conference but we won’t respect what they will decide, we will go with what the court ruled,” a member said.

The party’s internal tensions are now expected to intensify as the date for the delegates conference draws closer.