Kampala, Uganda | The High Court in Kampala has delivered a partial ruling in the case filed by Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and its president, Hon. Jimmy James Michael Akena, against the Electoral Commission (EC).
Justice Bernard Namanya, in a ruling delivered on October 1, 2025, declined to compel the EC to nominate Akena as a presidential candidate in the 2025/2026 General Elections, but allowed UPC to continue sponsoring candidates for other elective positions.
The dispute began after the EC on September 22, 2025, rejected Akena’s nomination, citing non-compliance with the UPC constitution and an expired Executive Committee.
The Commission maintained that Akena’s attempt to extend his term through a virtual delegates’ conference on July 26, 2025, was illegal, having been stopped by a prior court order.
Several party members, including Peter Walubiri and Denis Adim Enap, had also lodged complaints challenging Akena’s legitimacy as party president.
Justice Namanya ruled that it was impossible to reopen presidential nominations since the exercise had already closed on September 24, 2025.
He emphasized that public interest and constitutional timelines for elections outweighed Akena’s request.
The court observed that previous judgments had already barred Akena from seeking a third term as UPC president and said this cast serious doubt on the legality of the July 26 delegates’ conference.
On the issue of party leadership, Justice Namanya faulted the EC’s decision that declared the UPC Executive Committee expired, warning that such a move would cripple the party’s ability to field candidates.
He stressed that UPC should not be locked out of the 2025/2026 elections and issued an interim order restraining the EC from enforcing that part of its decision.
The ruling means Akena remains off the presidential ballot, but UPC as a party retains the legal standing to sponsor parliamentary and local government candidates in the forthcoming elections.
