By Jumah Kakomo
The Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) National Disciplinary Committee has suspended and recommended the dismissal of 5 party members following disciplinary proceedings over alleged breaches of the party constitution, regulations and standards of conduct.
The members named in the disciplinary proceedings are Denis Enap Adim, Jack Khabusi, Magero Emmanuel Were, Aisha Naome Natukunda, Josephine Babirye, Chris Ongom, Alex Ogwal Adyebo, Suzan Achola and George Ewal whereas Chris Ongom and 3 others their allegations were dismissed.
The proceedings were conducted by the UPC National Disciplinary Committee (NDC), chaired by Peter Paul Okello. According to the party, the hearings began on September 1, 2026, following the commencement of disciplinary proceedings on August 31. The hearings were initially held at Garden Inn Hotel in Lira City before being moved to the party headquarters at Uganda House in Kampala.
Enap faces 15 disciplinary findings
The committee found Denis Enap Adim liable for 15 alleged violations of UPC regulations and ordered his immediate suspension from the party, while recommending that the National Council dismiss him from UPC.
According to the committee’s ruling, Enap had not been elected or recognised as UPC president but had nevertheless issued communications using the name and title of party president. The communications allegedly included correspondence concerning party appointments and dealings with Parliament.
The committee said Enap’s use of the UPC name, emblem, flag, stamp and the title of party president violated the party constitution and regulations.
The NDC further found that his conduct amounted to actions that, according to the committee, undermined party activities and structures, contributed to divisions within the party, promoted factional activity and contravened decisions made by UPC’s constitutional organs.
The ruling also refers to allegations involving support for organisations or political actors considered contrary to UPC interests, the establishment of parallel structures, infiltration of the party, dissemination of misinformation, hooliganism, violence and harassment.
«“The National Disciplinary Committee of the UPC Party, having found that the Respondent Adim Dennis Enap committed a serious breach of the Party Constitution and is specifically liable for violation of 15 regulations cited above,” the ruling states.»
The committee consequently ordered Enap’s immediate suspension from UPC membership and recommended that the National Council dismiss him from the party.
The ruling also records that Enap did not appear before the committee despite being invited to attend the hearing. No person authorised to represent him appeared on his behalf.
The NDC, however, noted that Enap’s absence did not automatically establish the allegations against him and maintained that the complainant retained the burden of proving the material allegations.
Other members face disciplinary action
The other cases largely concern allegations of conduct that the party says challenged or undermined its established leadership structures.
Khabusi, Magero and Natukunda were accused by the party of manipulating UPC President Jimmy James Michael Akena and representing themselves as having authority to determine or influence the party presidency. The three have been suspended and recommended for dismissal, according to the disciplinary position.
Babirye faces allegations of indiscipline and misconduct, including claims that she gathered information on behalf of organisations hostile to UPC, infiltrated the party and engaged in hooliganism and violence. She was suspended with immediate effect and recommended for dismissal.
The disciplinary committee also took action against Ongom, Ogwal Adyebo, Achola and George Ewal over allegations that they mobilised and campaigned for National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential and parliamentary candidates, contrary to UPC’s interests.
According to the party, the four did not appear before the committee when they were summoned on September 3.
Leadership dispute
The disciplinary proceedings come amid a prolonged dispute over leadership of UPC.
Enap has challenged Akena’s position and sought recognition as UPC president, while Akena’s faction has maintained that Enap was not elected president through the party’s constitutional structures.
The NDC’s ruling also refers to an earlier court case involving Enap’s attempt to obtain recognition as UPC president. The committee stated that the party presidency is determined through the procedures prescribed by the UPC constitution and its organs rather than through the courts.
The recommendations now await consideration by the party’s National Council, which has the authority to determine whether the affected members will ultimately be dismissed from UPC.
