The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), once synonymous with Uganda’s post-independence governance, has been barred from fielding a presidential candidate in the 2026 elections.
The Independent Electoral Commission (EC) made the announcement, citing internal constitutional violations, defiance of court orders, and a prolonged leadership crisis that has fractured the once-dominant party beyond recognition.
This decision automatically disqualifies both Jimmy Akena, son of UPC founder and former President Milton Obote and his rival, Denis Enap Adim, both of whom had already collected nomination papers.
The ruling follows a high-stakes meeting at EC headquarters, where top UPC figures, including Akena, Adim, Joseph Ochieno, and Peter Walubiri, were summoned to clarify who legally leads the deeply divided party.
“The Commission cannot legally recognize any candidate from UPC at this time,” EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama stated, citing binding court rulings and blatant violations of the party’s constitution, according to a source who attended the meeting.
At the heart of the crisis is High Court Misc. Cause No. 148 of 2025, which found that Akena had unlawfully extended his presidency beyond the constitutionally mandated two terms. The EC also declared the party’s controversial virtual delegates’ conference held in defiance of a court order illegitimate and unconstitutional.
As a result, Akena’s nomination for the 2026–2030 term was invalidated, deemed both illegal and void. Adim, who sought to run as a rival candidate, also failed to meet essential criteria outlined in Article 13(5) of the UPC constitution.
Peter Walubiri, a key figure in the opposing faction, was not considered at all, having failed to participate in the nomination process.
Byabakama stressed that the UPC’s internal dysfunction violates Section 10 of the Political Parties and Organisations Act, which governs party leadership transitions.
As 2026 approaches, the question is no longer whether the UPC can contest, it’s whether it can even survive. With its house in disarray and legacy in tatters, the party that once shaped Uganda’s political landscape is now fighting for its very existence.
