The Uganda People's Congress faction allied to Olara Otunnu has named Peter Mukidi Walubiri as the new vice President for the party.
Walubiri, a renowned constitutional lawyer, will deputise Joseph Bbosa the party president who took over in 2016 when Otunnu retired.
Bbosa's faction is in contention with another led by Jimmy Akena, the Lira Municipality MP, who claims to be the rightful party president. The matter is still in court.
While announcing the change, Bbosa said that they have appointed Walubiri under article 14.3 (2) (b) of the party constitution.
"In the exercise of the power conferred upon me, I hereby nominate counsel Peter Mukidi Walubiri to the position of vice president of the Uganda Peoples’ Congress," Bbosa said.
According to the secretary general of UPC faction Rev. Jascinto Ogwal, although a delegates conference was to be held within six months in 2016 to elect party leaders, this did not happen because of the ongoing litigations in civil appeal filed by Akena.
UPC said the appointment of Walubiri is intended to ensure that the party continues to function normally.
"To ensure that UPC continues to function normally and to carry out its mandate, it is necessary to streamline and strengthen its leadership by filling all the vacant leadership positions," Ogwal said.
