By Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) president Jimmy Akena will not appear on the 2026 presidential ballot after the Electoral Commission (EC) formally rejected his nomination as the party’s flag bearer.
In a letter dated September 20, EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama informed UPC that Akena’s candidature was not recognized, effectively locking out one of Uganda’s oldest political parties from the presidential race. The decision has ignited a storm within the opposition, with Akena accusing the Commission of acting outside the law to deliberately undermine UPC’s constitutional right to participate.
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“The right to contest in an election is a constitutional right that should not be subject to the discretion of the Commission,” Akena fumed in a press statement issued Tuesday. “This decision is unfair, intended not only to undermine the sanctity of our Constitution but also to subvert UPC’s right to field a presidential candidate.”
According to Akena, UPC had submitted endorsements from over the required 98 districts, which the EC had previously verified and confirmed. He described the rejection as an act of political sabotage and revealed that the party has filed an application for Judicial Review in court, seeking to overturn the Commission’s decision.
Even as the legal battle looms, the reality is that UPC, which once produced Uganda’s first post-independence governments, will not have its name on the 2026 presidential ballot unless the courts intervene quickly.
Akena urged UPC members to remain calm and continue mobilization for other elective positions. “All our parliamentary candidates are set for nomination next month. We shall pursue all peaceful means to ensure UPC remains part of Uganda’s democratic transition,” he said.
The Electoral Commission has not yet publicly explained why Akena’s bid was disqualified With presidential nominations set for September 23–24, the window for UPC to fight back is rapidly closing.
The exclusion of UPC from the presidential race marks a significant setback for the once-dominant party and further reshapes the political battlefield as Uganda heads into the 2026 general elections.
