The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) is once again embroiled in a fierce leadership battle that threatens to fracture its legacy.
At the heart of the storm is Jimmy Akena Obote, the embattled UPC president and son of the party’s founder, whose grip on leadership has been challenged by a High Court ruling and a determined opponent, Joseph Pinytek Ochieno.
The latest twist in this saga came on July 25, 2025, when the High Court issued an interim injunction halting a planned virtual UPC Delegates Conference scheduled for today in Kamdini.
The court’s decision, prompted by an urgent application from Jpseph Ochieno, a UPC stalwart and a vocal critic of Akena’s leadership, has thrown the party into disarray.
Speaking at a press conference in Kampala, Ochieno hailed the ruling as a victory for the rule of law and the preservation of UPC’s values.
“With today’s court ruling restraining the proceedings of the planned UPC delegates conference. I would like to commend my lawyers for fighting hard to make it difficult for Akena and his team to hold a delegates conference since they had no mandate,” Ochieno declared, flanked by his legal team from Byamukama & Co. Advocates.
Ochieno’s legal challenge stems from a long-standing dispute over Akena’s legitimacy as UPC president. In 2021, Ochieno filed an application contesting Akena’s attempt to seek a fourth term, accusing him of amending the party constitution unlawfully to extend his tenure.
The UPC constitution, under Article 14.1(3), limits the party presidency to two terms, with a third term only permissible if the incumbent wins a national presidential election—a feat Akena has not achieved.
Ochieno’s persistence paid off earlier in July 2025, when Justice Bernard Namanya ruled Akena’s nomination for a 2025–2030 term illegal, null, and void, citing the constitutional breach.
Yesterday’s injunction further tightened the noose, restraining Akena and the UPC from convening the delegates’ conference, either physically or virtually, until a substantive application is resolved on July 29, 2025.
The court’s intervention was spurred by Ochieno’s argument that Akena’s insistence on holding the conference, despite police advice to postpone due to security concerns, was a blatant attempt to circumvent ongoing judicial proceedings.
Ochieno’s lawyer, Jude Byamukama, informed the court that Akena had notified the Electoral Commission of plans to hold the conference virtually, a move Ochieno described as “defiant” and an “abuse of process.”
Justice Kavuma, citing legal precedents, emphasized the urgency of the matter, noting that allowing the conference to proceed could compromise justice.
Akena, however, has remained defiant. Addressing the media at Uganda House, the UPC headquarters, he announced that the conference would proceed virtually, arguing that the court ruling addressed outdated 2015 matters and did not affect his current mandate, renewed in August 2020.
“I refuse to abandon UPC to uncertainty or leave it without direction,” Akena stated, signaling his determination to cling to power.
Yet, his decision to switch to a virtual format drew further criticism, with Ochieno and his allies accusing him of undermining the party’s democratic processes.
The UPC’s internal strife is not new. Since Milton Obote’s death in 2005, the party has struggled to maintain its once-dominant position in Ugandan politics. Akena’s leadership has been marred by legal battles, with courts repeatedly questioning his legitimacy.
In 2020, the Court of Appeal nullified his 2015 election, declaring that he had been holding the presidency illegally. The Supreme Court upheld this ruling in 2023, yet Akena continued to lead, often defying court orders. Ochieno, a former UPC spokesperson and envoy to the UK and Ireland, has vowed to reunite the party’s factions and restore its historical glory.
“The UPC is bigger than any individual’s interests,” Ochieno asserted, accusing Akena and other leaders of holding the party hostage and stifling the ambitions of younger members.
Ochieno envisions a revitalized party that collaborates with other opposition players to challenge President Museveni.
The UPC’s internal divisions have weakened its national presence, with critics arguing that the party has been reduced to a shadow of its former self. The 2020 delegates’ conference, which saw Akena re-elected amid allegations of rigging, and a rival conference led by Walubiri, underscored the deep schisms.
Ochieno, who came second in the Walubiri faction’s election with 46% of the vote, rejected the results, demanding transparency. His call for fresh, inclusive elections resonates with many UPC members who yearn for new leadership to steer the party away from nepotism and corruption.
As the July 29 court hearing looms, the UPC faces a critical juncture. For now, Akena finds himself in a fix, caught between judicial rulings and a determined adversary, as the UPC’s future hangs in the balance.
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