KAMPALA
Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) president Jimmy Akena’s ambitious dreams to succeed President Museveni who has ruled the country for nearly 40 years, has been cut short after the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) concluded the nomination exercise without including his name on the list of cleared candidates.
Akena, who had declared his intention to run for presidency, was last week denied nomination on grounds that he had already served two constitutional terms as UPC president and could not lawfully present himself as the party’s flag bearer.
This follows alleged internal bickering within the party that caused bitter splits and creation of three factions, with each group claiming legitimacy os holding the party flag in the 2026/31 elections.
Akena has denied existence of factions within the party calling them “ghost factions.” On Tuesday, he held a press conference in Kampala where he rejected the EC’s decision, to disqualify him, describing it as “unfair.” He threatened that he would take legal action to challenge his exclusion.
“I have followed the law, I have followed the rules, but the Commission has chosen to act outside the law. We shall seek redress in the courts of law,” Akena told journalists.
On Tuesday, the EC released its final list of nominated candidates, effectively shutting the door on Akena’s State House ambitions. His exclusion has deepened divisions within UPC, where senior party members insist he should hand over to the new party leadership.
However, some senior party members insist the EC acted rightly. Higenyi Kemba, a prominent UPC leader, said Akena should have stepped down at the end of his term.
“Akena should simply hand over. That’s why the Electoral Commission declined to nominate him as flag bearer,” Higenyi told Parrots Media.
Further reports allege that one of the rival camp, under Dennis Enap Adim received Shs200 billion money heist likely from President Museveni to fight Akena and shatter his 2026 State House dream.
Akena’s setback underscores UPC’s declining influence on the national stage, leaving the once-dominant party without a presidential candidate in the forthcoming polls.
Nominations for 2026 presidential race began on Tuesday (September 23) and concluded today Wednesday (September 24). By close of business in Wednesday, the electoral commission chairperson, Justice Simon Mugyenyi Byabakama announced that eight people were successfully nominated for 2026 presidency. The race race will now feature eight candidates including Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), Nathan Nandala Mafabi, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Hon. Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert – National Unity Platform (NUP), Rtd Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu Greg Oyera, and Alliance for National Transformation (ANT). Others are Mubarak Munyagwa Serunga , the Common Man’s Party (CMP), Robert Kasibante – National Peasants Party (NPP), Joseph Elton Mabirizi – Conservative Party (CP), and Frank Bulira Kabinga – People’s Revolutionary Party (PRP).
Unlike the previous elections, the 2026 general election doesn’t have a female candidate and independent candidates.
