Akena’s term extended as UNEB trains head teachers

26 July 2025, 7:50 pm

By Ronald Semagonja

The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party has today held a successful extraordinary delegates conference in Naalya Kira, Wakiso District, with approximately 800 members participating both physically and virtually.

According to the party president, Hon. Jimmy Akena, the conference was convened to prepare for both internal party primaries and the upcoming national elections. “The UPC held a very successful extraordinary delegates conference which happened both physically at Naalya Kira, Wakiso District and virtually across the country. The delegates unanimously acknowledged the work which the party has so far done and the achievements attained, albeit under difficult circumstances,” Akena said.

As the highest decision-making body in the party, the delegates conference passed several key resolutions, including the suspension of Articles 25.2 and 25.3 of the UPC Constitution (2008, as amended). These articles require a three-month notice for constitutional amendments by party members and a one-month notice if initiated by the party president. The suspension was made to facilitate the decisions of the extraordinary meeting.

One of the major resolutions passed was the extension of Hon. Jimmy Akena’s term as party president by 12 months, effective 26th July 2025. This extension is aimed at enabling the party leadership to organize and oversee the conduct of both party structural elections and the national electoral process.

Akena reaffirmed the UPC’s commitment to inter-party cooperation, stating, “The UPC party remains and continues to remain a member of the Inter-Party Organization for Dialogue, where we shall always handle any matters with sister political parties as provided for under the Political Parties and Organizations Act.”

Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has intensified efforts to train head teachers on the country’s new school curriculum.

Speaking after the 15th annual research conference held at the UNEB headquarters in Kyambogo, Kampala, UNEB Chairperson Professor Celestino Obua emphasized the importance of involving school leadership in the curriculum reform process. “We have successfully held this conference where head teachers from different schools have gathered to learn more about the new curriculum. We first had this with the teachers, and the only challenge we have had is that the teachers are still interested in the old curriculum—but this is changing,” Prof. Obua said.

The training initiative is part of UNEB’s broader strategy to ensure smooth implementation of the new curriculum and to equip key education stakeholders with the knowledge and tools required for its success.