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The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has been facing a tumultuous period, with its president, Jimmy Akena, lashing out at party members who have abandoned the party.
Akena made his remarks during a meeting with Kigezi sub-region party leaders. The UPC has long been plagued by divisions, with one faction led by Peter Mukidi Walubiri and another by Jimmy Akena, who has been party president since 2015.
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The divisions within the party have been attributed to alleged government attempts to weaken the opposition. Walubiri has claimed that President Museveni’s administration has consistently sought to undermine both the UPC and the opposition at large.
Akena’s latest outburst comes in the wake of a court ruling that annulled his election as party president in 2015. Walubiri and his faction have been battling Akena in court, challenging his leadership.
The court’s decision sparked a power struggle within the party, with Walubiri demanding that Akena vacate party offices. The situation has grown increasingly tense, with Walubiri threatening further action to remove Akena from power.
During his mobilization tour in the Kigezi sub-region, Akena addressed party delegates, criticising UPC members who only engage in criticism but fail to contribute to the party’s development.
He emphasised that any leader claiming to represent the UPC must demonstrate their commitment to the party.
“I have seen some UPC members who only stop at criticising the party, but when it comes to development, they are nowhere to be seen,” Akena noted.
Akena also questioned Walubiri’s dedication to the UPC cause, referencing his past electoral record.
“If Walubiri is to contest in the 2026 elections, I will campaign for him. In 2006, we all stood for Members of Parliament. Walubiri stood for Bungabula South, but what surprises me is that he has never gone back for an election.
Now, how do you claim to carry the UPC flag when you cannot face the voters?” Akena questioned.
“Voters are our bosses. I have contested, and I have supported candidates. Recently, I was in Kisoro, and before that, I was in the Dokolo by-election, where we had a UPC flag. I was there. I have never attacked anyone; I only speak facts, and I know the UPC message that resonates with the people of Uganda.”
Akena further dismissed the ruling NRM’s narrative of success, accusing them of implementing a manifesto originally developed by the UPC in 1985.
“The NRM keeps singing about their achievements since 1986, but if you know the facts, in September 1985, we were supposed to release the revised UPC recovery program for 1986. The barter trade system didn’t work, so they took the UPC program, changed the title, and claimed it as their own. I will highlight all this during the 2026 campaign,” Akena said.
He also reassured Kigezi UPC delegates of his intention to run as the UPC presidential candidate in the 2026 general elections.
As the power struggle within the UPC continues, the party’s future remains uncertain. Will Walubiri’s faction succeed in reclaiming the party offices, or will Akena maintain his grip on power? One thing is clear: the UPC’s internal divisions are weakening its ability to effectively oppose the ruling NRM government.
