Court blocks UPC's delegates conference

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The High Court in Kampala has issued an order, stopping Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and its president, Jimmy Akena, from convening a delegates’ conference on Saturday, July 26, 2025.

Justice Joyce Kavuma of the Civil Division of the High Court issued the directive on Friday, July 25, 2025, following an application filed by a UPC member, Joseph Pinytek Ochieno.

“An interim exparte order is hereby issued for three days, restraining UPC and Akena, their agents, servants, or anyone acting under their authority from convening either by physical or virtual, the extraordinary delegates’ conference scheduled for July 26, 2025, until the hearing of the main application,” he directed.

The Judge issued the ruling in the presence of the lawyer representing the applicant, Rogers Paul Katunguka from JByamukama and Company Advocates and UPC lawyer Fred Kiiza Businge.

The judge said the application was filed without inordinate delay, considering the circumstances that led to the call of the delegates' conference, noting that the application was not filed in bad faith.

“I find that the applicant has proved there exist exceptional circumstances for the grant of this application. Accordingly, the application is hereby granted,” Kavuma said.

The court heard that the counsel for the applicant endeavoured to serve the respondents the main application and also informed them of the pending hearing of the exparte interim application.

“The court record shows that the applicant and his counsel tried to serve the respondents the application and hence was not brought in bad faith,” she observed.

The judge further ruled that the applicant has proved that there is a threat or danger that cannot be eliminated by an expeditious hearing of the main application.

“I therefore find that indeed if Akena is allowed to proceed with the delegates’ conference, it might be too late to avert the danger, considering that his position as president and capacity to call for the said conference," she said.

Court prohibits Akena 2026 UPC ticket bid

The development comes a week after the court prohibited Akena from contesting for the country's 2026-2031 presidency on the UPC party ticket.

The order by Justice Bernard Namanya of the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala is dated Friday, July 18, 2025.

The judgment followed a petition filed by the party's presidential aspirant, Denis Adim Enap, who opposed Akena’s bid. The order was issued by Justice Bernard Namanya of the Civil Division of the High Court.

Court ruled that Akena had served his two full terms, as per the UPC Constitution Article 14(1)3.

“An order of certiorari is hereby issued quashing the decision of UPC to nominate Jimmy James Michael Akena for the office of party president for the period of 2025 to 2030,” the court ordered.

Adding: “That an order of injunction is hereby issued, restraining UPC from further nominating Hon. Jimmy Akena as candidate for office of party president for period 2025 to 2030.”

The law

As things stand, Akena can contest for the presidency as an independent, provided he meets the requirements demanded by the Electoral Commission.