Who is Dennis Adim Enap?
My name is Dennis Adim Enap. I was born in Jinja to a Lango father and a Musoga mother. While I trace my heritage to Lango, I largely identify as Musoga because I have spent nearly my entire life in Busoga growing up, studying, and speaking Lusoga more than Langi, which I now speak with some difficulty. I’m 39 years old and will be turning 40 later this year.
Professionally, I’m a lawyer, an economist, and a trained pilot. But above all, I’m a proud Ugandan and a committed member of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), which I joined in 2008 during my university years.
While there, I served as a Guild Representative Council (GRC) member, ran for Guild President, and later became the Guild Speaker. That marked the beginning of my political journey. Today, I am stepping forward to lead UPC into a new era.
What attracted a young man like you to UPC?
I was drawn to UPC because of the prevailing pettiness and shallowness in our national politics. Many leaders today lack the courage to take bold decisions and fix what’s broken.
UPC, as Uganda’s independence party, has a proud legacy. It remains one of the few post-independence political parties in Africa still represented in Parliament.
Unfortunately, our current presence doesn't reflect our true potential. In the last election cycle, we should have secured at least 30 Members of Parliament enough momentum to aim for 60 or 70 MPs in subsequent elections, putting us in a position to contest for national leadership.
As a youthful candidate, I represent a new generation of leadership a face that resonates with Uganda’s youth, who make up 75% of the population.
What is the root of UPC’s internal strife?
The party has struggled with internal divisions, particularly since Jimmy Akena’s controversial election as party president in 2015. I was part of the team that campaigned for him then, and I acknowledge the process was contested. We fought for his victory, but it’s now clear that healing and reconciliation are necessary.
UPC is fragmented. My mission is to unite the party’s different factions by fostering inclusive platforms where every member regardless of past allegiances can participate and be heard.
This upcoming election is a critical opportunity for UPC to transition from the Akena era to fresh, neutral leadership. I believe my humility and openness position me as the right candidate to restore unity.
How do you plan to strengthen UPC at the grassroots and rebuild unity?
UPC’s grassroots structures are in disarray. Ironically, one of the main promises Akena made was to build party structures nationwide, but even in his own region Lango that hasn’t materialised.
Lango has 31 parliamentary seats, but UPC only holds 10. Out of 10 districts in the region, the party has only four active district chairpersons. Even in Lira, where Akena has served as MP since 2006, only two of six MPs are from UPC, while the rest are from NRM or are NRM-leaning independents.
If elected, my top priority post-2026 will be to establish robust party structures across the country within the first two years. Without a solid foundation, political growth is impossible.
What specifically would you like UPC to do for young people?
Uganda’s youth are facing a deepening crisis. Despite making up 75% of the population, they are plagued by high unemployment rates.
Our universities churn out over 45,000 graduates annually Makerere contributes about 15,000, Kyambogo roughly 10,000 yet the job market has barely expanded.
Even worse, many institutions offer outdated courses that do little to prepare students for the modern economy. We must push for education reforms that prioritise practical, employable skills and support youth innovation and entrepreneurship. UPC should be the party championing that change.
Beyond the youth agenda, why should people choose you?
I represent a new face and renewed energy for UPC something the current leadership sorely lacks. My message speaks directly to young Ugandans who see in me someone they can relate to, both in age and in lived experience.
The current leadership is out of touch. We have a party president in opposition, yet his wife is a minister in the ruling government still under UPC.
When party members raised concerns and called for her expulsion, Akena simply ignored them. That kind of inconsistency and disregard for internal democracy has damaged the party’s credibility. I will return the voice to UPC’s members and restore public trust.
What is your biggest challenge heading into this race?
The biggest obstacle is the entrenched interference by the state in opposition politics. Since 1986, the NRM regime has systematically eroded multiparty democracy.
The legacy of the Movement System, compounded by laws like the Public Order Management Act, has suffocated opposition activity.
Police routinely block our meetings and harass our members, discouraging citizens from engaging with parties like UPC. To survive and thrive, we must reclaim our political space through strategic resilience and grassroots reorganization.
Any final message?
I urge all UPC members to reject the illegal manoeuvres being orchestrated by the current leadership. For instance, the planned adult suffrage election at the village level to elect the party president is unconstitutional and must be stopped.
Jimmy Akena has completed his second and final term under the party constitution. It’s time for fresh leadership. I have been nominated unopposed, and on July 3, during the district conference elections, I humbly ask for your endorsement to become the next president of UPC.
Within two years of my leadership, the party will undergo visible transformation—revived, modernised, and fully prepared to reclaim its rightful place in Uganda’s political landscape.