In a dramatic turn of events, Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) President Jimmy Akena has sacked three senior members of the party’s Electoral Commission, accusing them of plotting to usurp party leadership ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The expelled officials—Vice Chairperson Jack Kabuusu and commissioners Magere Emmanuel and Aisha Naomi Natukunda—allegedly blindsided the party by secretly submitting a “Certificate of Declaration” to the national Electoral Commission, proclaiming Kampala-based lawyer Denis Adim Enap as the new UPC President.
A visibly irked Akena called the move a constitutional breach, asserting that the internal commission had no mandate to interfere in presidential nominations.
“Their role ends at parliamentary level. The presidency is beyond their jurisdiction,” Akena declared at a press conference in Kampala.
Sources within the party say the trio acted without consultation, igniting a leadership storm just days before UPC’s pivotal National Delegates Conference—where Akena was expected to secure endorsement for a third term as presidential flagbearer.
Akena, already under legal fire following a High Court ruling that nullified his nomination, now finds himself in a tightening political vise. Justice Bernard Namanya recently ruled that Akena’s bid for a third term violated Article 14.1(3) of the UPC Constitution, which restricts party presidents to two five-year terms—unless they’ve won Uganda’s national presidency.
The legal victory handed to Adim Enap, the very man declared UPC president by the rogue commissioners, has thrown the party’s leadership into chaos. With Akena’s candidacy legally restrained and internal dissent surfacing, UPC’s path to 2026 looks increasingly uncertain.
Further deepening the crisis are allegations that the dismissed commissioners disqualified another presidential hopeful without due process—fueling speculation of a coordinated power grab.
“There’s a lot of misinformation and calculated noise hurting party morale,” Akena said, warning members against falling for what he called “fictitious narratives.”
Despite the setbacks, Akena insists he welcomes internal competition.
“Let anyone who believes they can lead step forward. The delegates will decide,” he said.
But with the party torn between constitutional law and political loyalty, Saturday’s delegates’ conference could mark a decisive moment—or a dangerous fracture—in the future of UPC.
