KAMPALA, Uganda — The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has been barred by the Electoral Commission (EC) from fielding a presidential candidate in the 2026 elections. The dramatic decision, which throws one of Uganda’s oldest political parties into deeper disarray, cites a series of internal constitutional breaches and binding court orders.
The ruling was announced by EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama on Monday, September 22, following a meeting with key UPC officials, including Jimmy James Michael Akena, Denis Enap Adim, and Joseph Pinytek Ochieno.
The meeting, convened to clarify the party’s legally recognized leadership, concluded with the EC declaring that neither Akena nor Adim met the requirements to be a presidential candidate.
At the core of the dispute is a High Court judgment that ruled Jimmy Akena had already served the maximum two terms permitted under the UPC constitution. That judgment, which nullified his nomination, remains binding and has not been overturned.
The EC also faulted the party’s virtual extraordinary delegates’ conference for violating Articles 25(2) and (3) of the UPC constitution, noting that the meeting was held despite an interim court order blocking it.
The commission further stated that Akena’s nomination for the 2026–2030 term was illegal and void. Meanwhile, Adim’s nomination was also rejected for failing to meet the requirements of Article 13(5) of the party’s constitution.
Another senior figure, Peter Mukidi Walubiri, was not considered as he did not participate in the party’s internal nomination process. The EC underscored that the entire process fell short of Section 10 of the Political Parties and Organisations Act, which governs internal party leadership changes.
Amid the confusion, false claims on social media that the EC had cleared Akena as the party’s flag bearer were swiftly dismissed as baseless.
Also Read: Who will protect Uganda’s 2026 presidential candidates? Army, Electoral Commission clash
With the nomination deadline for presidential candidates approaching, the UPC faces the unprecedented prospect of not participating in the presidential race for the first time since its founding.
Founded in 1960 and once led by Uganda’s first executive prime minister and president, Milton Obote, the UPC holds a significant place in the country’s history. It spearheaded Uganda’s transition to independence in 1962 and formed the nation’s first post-independence government.
However, for decades, the party has been plagued by internal factionalism, a dwindling electoral base, and an inability to adapt to the country’s evolving political landscape.
The current leadership standoff, which has left the UPC a shadow of its former self, reflects years of unresolved disputes and now threatens to sideline the party that once defined Uganda’s political direction.
