Kampala – July 18, 2025
In a landmark decision delivered today, the High Court of Uganda has nullified the nomination of Hon. Jimmy James Michael Akena as a candidate for the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) party presidency in the 2025/2026 internal elections.
Justice Bernard Namanya ruled that Akena, who has already served two consecutive five-year terms (2015–2020 and 2020–2025), is ineligible for re-election under Article 14.1(3) of the UPC Constitution, which limits the office of party president to two terms, save for an exception that does not apply in this case.
The judicial review application, brought by Mr. Dennis Adim Enap, challenged Akena’s third-term nomination on grounds of illegality, irrationality, and procedural impropriety. The court found that the UPC’s decision to nominate Akena was unlawful and issued both a certiorari order quashing the nomination and an injunction restraining the UPC from re-nominating him.
Justice Namanya emphasized that although Akena’s initial election in 2015 had been quashed by the High Court and upheld by the Court of Appeal, he continued to serve the full five-year term (2015–2020) under an interim stay order, thus completing a first term in office. His re-election in 2020 marked the beginning of his second term, which ends this year.
“The nomination of Hon. Jimmy James Michael Akena for the office of party president of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) for the period 2025 to 2030 is illegal and therefore null and void,” ruled Justice Namanya.
In rejecting preliminary objections raised by the respondents, the court also found that the applicant had exhausted internal dispute resolution mechanisms within the party and had standing to seek judicial review.
The ruling is expected to significantly alter the dynamics of the UPC’s internal electoral process. Mr. Enap’s nomination remains uncontested by the court, opening the way for a new chapter in the party’s leadership.
Each party was ordered to bear its own costs, with the judge urging reconciliation and adherence to democratic principles within political parties.
