By Jumah Kakomo
Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) President Jimmy James Akena has urged eligible party members and supporters to turn up in large numbers for the upcoming UPC Delegates Conference, saying broad participation will help resolve internal disagreements and strengthen the party’s democratic processes.
Speaking during the party’s weekly press conference at Uganda House on Wednesday, Akena said the conference would go beyond electing leaders and provide members with an opportunity to reaffirm UPC’s commitment to internal democracy.
“To all eligible delegates, branch chairpersons, district leaders, and supporters of UPC, this conference belongs to you,” Akena said. “Come and take part in choosing your leaders. Do not stay home and later complain. The time to decide is now.”
He said low voter turnout and the organization of parallel meetings in previous party processes had contributed to leadership disputes, legal challenges, and internal divisions.
“When only a few people participate, others feel excluded, and disagreements arise after the process,” he said. “If we all participate, we will have results that everyone respects and avoid unnecessary wrangles.”
The UPC Delegates Conference, expected to take place soon, will elect members of the party’s National Executive Committee and other key leadership organs.
Akena also acknowledged former UPC president and diplomat Ambassador Olara Otunnu for proposing his name for consideration for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, despite their past political differences.
He said leadership in international service should rise above internal political disagreements and described Otunnu’s gesture as a positive contribution to Uganda’s representation on the global stage.
“Whether we have agreed on everything in the past or not, Uganda’s name being presented on the world stage is something we should all support,” Akena said.
Turning to national politics, Akena criticized the recently concluded Local Council I (LC I) elections, alleging that the party had received reports of irregularities during the village-level polls.
He said the complaints, received from different parts of the country, included allegations of voter manipulation, missing election materials, vote rigging, and interference with the electoral process.
According to Akena, the reported irregularities mirror concerns raised during previous national elections and, if left unaddressed, could erode public confidence in Uganda’s democratic institutions.
He warned that declining trust in elections at the grassroots level could have far-reaching implications for the country’s democratic governance.
