Uganda People’s Congress UPC has confirmed Jimmy Akena as the new UPC party president.
During a consultative delegates meeting held at UMA Show Grounds in Lugogo, UPC Electoral Chairman Mr Edward Ssegane announced Akena as the new president.
“He emerged winner in the district elections having won by a third of the total number of the districts that participated in the elections at district quota level,” Mr Seggane said adding, “I hereby pronounce him head of UPC”.
Out of the 110 districts that participated in the district elections, Akena managed to win in 67 districts beating off competition from other contestants like David Pulkol with four districts and Edward Kakonge who won in two districts.
Akena, who also doubles as the MP for Lira Municipality, has come under fire since being announced winner with claims that he intimidated the electoral commission officials and forced them to announce him winner.
“I am the true president and this is because the people chose me to lead them, we did everything according to the party constitution and therefore nothing is illegal,” Akena, son to UPC founder Dr Apollo Milton Obote, said.
He becomes the third member of the Obote family to take up the position of UPC party president after his father Apollo Milton Obote and his mother Miria Kalule Obote.
Meanwhile, during the meeting the former UPC president Olara Otunnu was castigated by party officials for incompetence and mismanagement of funds.
In 2013, they said the UPC received Shs86 million in donations which money has not yet been accounted for. Also, the members said during the 2011 general elections, the Electoral Commission gave the party over 309 million shillings and 111 million was later withdrawn just after nine days to cater for the delegates on their nationwide travels but they reportedly did not receive the money.
