UPC’s Jimmy Akena Faction Defiant After Supreme Court Ruling

The Jimmy Akena faction of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) remains defiant, asserting that they continue to lead the party despite the recent Supreme Court decision declaring Akena’s presidency null and void. Fred Ebil, the party’s secretary-general, argues that the Supreme Court’s ruling, based on the 2015-2020 term, was an error and that it is now overtaken by Akena’s current term. However, constitutional lawyer George Musisi disagrees.

The legal dispute dates back to the 2015 party primaries and district conference elections, during which the late Joseph Bosa contested Akena’s election, a challenge that eventually led to the Supreme Court’s recent ruling. Akena had previously lost similar cases in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Despite the string of lower court decisions and the recent Supreme Court ruling, Akena and his executives maintain their authority. Ebil claims that the 2015 cases have been overtaken by subsequent events.

Constitutional lawyer George Musisi, interpreting the Supreme Court’s ruling, asserts that since lower courts had previously made a similar decision, the recent confirmation by the Supreme Court leaves no room for Akena. Musisi refutes the argument that the case had been overtaken by events, stating that an illegal leadership elected in 2015 cannot legally organize another credible election.