The ruling followed a legal petition by UPC member Dennis Adim Enap, who argued that Akena had already exhausted the constitutionally allowed two terms.
In his ruling, Justice Bernard Namanya sided with the petitioner, ruling that the party’s constitution does not permit a third term and that Akena’s nomination for another stint violated internal rules.
Yet Akena, who is serving out the final months of his second term, appeared unfazed and even welcomed the verdict, saying it reaffirms his leadership up to this point.
“I welcome the decision of the court and I am not going to challenge it because it confirms that I have been president of UPC all along,” he told journalists in Kampala.
With the court having shut the door on his current nomination, Akena is now placing his political future in the hands of the party’s delegates.
He confirmed that he will seek a fresh mandate during the UPC National Delegates Conference slated for July 26, 2025, in Kamdini.
“The delegates conference is on July 26, 2025. I will be seeking the mandate from the owners of the party. All those who have been bickering, please come and participate,” Akena said, in an appeal to both supporters and critics.
The ruling is the latest twist in a protracted leadership battle that has dogged UPC for years. Akena’s ascent to the party’s presidency in 2015 was marred by controversy and internal legal challenges, with factions accusing him of flouting democratic procedures.
Nonetheless, he has maintained a firm grip on the party leadership, weathering repeated accusations of authoritarianism and unilateralism.
In his post-ruling remarks, Akena also lashed out at Uganda’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), accusing it of sowing confusion by altering the electoral roadmap without adequate stakeholder consultation.
“How could they keep changing nomination dates without consulting stakeholders? I have sought appointments with the IEC boss Simon Byabakama but he keeps dodging me,” Akena said.
Akena, the son of former Ugandan president and UPC founder Milton Obote, has in recent months sought to reposition the party within Uganda’s broader opposition movement.
He has been seen at public events alongside National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, as well as other opposition figures engaged in coalition talks aimed at mounting a unified challenge to President Museveni’s decades-long rule.
President Museveni, who came to power in 1986, is widely expected to seek re-election in 2026 amid rising pressure from a restless opposition and a younger voting population.
While Akena's future as UPC leader remains uncertain pending the outcome of the delegates’ vote, his defiance and willingness to submit to party structures signals that the UPC may yet find a way to resolve its internal divisions without further court battles.
The July 26 conference in Kamdini now looms large—not just for Akena’s political future, but also for the direction of a party that once governed Uganda and is struggling to regain national relevance.