The Electoral Commission (EC) has barred the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) from fielding any presidential candidate in the 2026 elections following serious constitutional breaches and unresolved leadership disputes within the party. The decision was announced on September 22, 2025, after a tense meeting between EC officials and key UPC leaders, including Jimmy James Michael Akena and Denis Enap Adim.
The EC ruled that neither Akena nor Adim qualified to run as the party’s flag bearer, citing a High Court judgment that nullified Akena’s nomination on the grounds that he had already served the maximum two terms allowed by the UPC constitution. The party’s attempt to extend Akena’s tenure via a controversial virtual delegates’ conference was also deemed invalid due to a court order blocking such meetings. This marks a significant setback for the historic party, which may face sitting out the presidential race for the first time.