The High Court in Kampala has issued an interim order barring Jimmy Akena from contesting for a third term as president of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC). The ruling followed a petition filed by Dennis Adim Enap, a UPC member and presidential aspirant, who argued that Akena’s nomination violated Article 14.1(3) of the party’s constitution. This article limits a party president to two terms unless the individual secures a national presidential victory during their second term—something Akena has not accomplished.
Enap’s petition pointed out that Akena had already served two full terms, from 2015 to 2020 and 2020 to 2025. Despite the nullification of his initial 2015 election by court, Akena continued to lead under an interim order, effectively completing the full term. Citing this history, Justice Bernard Namanya concluded that Akena’s fresh nomination for the 2025–2030 period contravened the party’s constitutional guidelines.
The judge ruled that Akena’s nomination was “illegal and therefore null and void,” and issued an additional order restraining the UPC from further nominating him. In arriving at this decision, the court referred to a 2020 Court of Appeal judgment and prior observations by Justice Irene Mulyagonja, which acknowledged Akena’s continued leadership despite procedural irregularities in his first term.
This ruling underscores the judiciary’s role in upholding internal democratic processes within political parties and affirms the importance of adhering to constitutional limits to ensure fair leadership transitions.
