Akena said any alliance that denies a party the right to field candidates would amount to political subjugation rather than genuine cooperation. He maintained that UPC will continue to nominate and support its own candidates in all elective positions and does not require permission from another party to do so.
By Denish Ongora
KAMPALA – 26th May 2026. The President of the Uganda People’s Congress, Jimmy Akena, has denied that the party has a formal alliance with the ruling National Resistance Movement, insisting that UPC remains an independent political organization with the right to field candidates at all levels of elections.
Addressing journalists, Akena said that although the party is open to constructive engagement with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the government on matters affecting Ugandans, such engagement should not be mistaken for a formal alliance. He stressed that UPC and NRM are distinct political entities with different programmes and policy positions.
Akena said any alliance that denies a party the right to field candidates would amount to political subjugation rather than genuine cooperation. He maintained that UPC will continue to nominate and support its own candidates in all elective positions and does not require permission from another party to do so.
“Even if the President wants to talk about an alliance, alliance as far as I am concerned does not mean I cannot field a candidate”, Akena said. He added that, “When I choose to field a candidate, I will field my candidate and support my candidate. We are a different entity and not subject to guidance or direction from another party.”
On 25 May 2026, at Kololo Ceremonial Ground, during the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni said that the 15 votes obtained by Democratic Party President General, Norbert Mao, who contested for Speaker, and the 14 votes secured by Sarah Aguti Nyangkori of Uganda Peoples Congress, for the position of Deputy Speaker, should have gone to the NRM candidates because Mao and the UPC president Akena are allied to the ruling party.
The UPC leader said political parties should focus on providing solutions to challenges facing citizens. In line with that position, he unveiled a UPC housing policy proposal which he said had also been presented to the President and government as an alternative approach to addressing Uganda’s housing deficit.
According to Akena, Uganda faces a housing deficit of about 2.4 million units, while current construction levels remain below demand. He said the UPC proposal focuses on affordable modular and container-based housing targeted at employed Ugandans, including teachers, health workers, police officers and other low-income earners.
The proposal seeks to enable individuals earning between seven hundred thousand and one million shillings per month to own homes within seven years, thereby improving household asset ownership and financial security. Akena challenged government and other stakeholders to scrutinize the proposal and engage in policy discussions on its merits.
On economic management, Akena raised concerns about high interest rates, saying they continue to affect housing affordability, livelihoods and business growth. He urged political leaders to openly discuss such issues and provide practical solutions for citizens.
The UPC president also reiterated his long-standing concerns about corruption and transparency in public institutions. He criticized what he described as the failure to adequately present information on Uganda’s public indebtedness, arguing that citizens and Parliament should be provided with a clear picture of the country’s debt obligations before decisions are made on borrowing.
Akena welcomed ongoing efforts to combat corruption but said more work remains to be done to strengthen accountability and public confidence in government institutions.
On Parliament, Akena congratulated the newly elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker and expressed hope that they would execute their responsibilities impartially and in the national interest. He said parliamentary leaders should represent all Ugandans regardless of political affiliation and uphold the dignity, decorum and independence of the institution.
He further urged parliamentary leadership to avoid partisan activism while carrying out official duties, emphasizing that Parliament should remain a national institution serving all citizens.
Akena concluded by reaffirming that UPC will continue to advance independent policy positions on housing, education, health and economic development while engaging government and other stakeholders in discussions aimed at addressing the country’s challenges.
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