Akena faction to hold national UPC meet

Kampala.

A Uganda Peoples Congress party faction led by Jimmy Akena has called for a national council meeting to try and reconcile the warring groups.

The meeting scheduled for August 11 to August 12 will be the first since Mr Akena’s controversial election as UPC president, which was branded illegal by the rival faction.

While addressing journalists at the party headquarters in Kampala on Wednesday, Mr Akena, who is also the Lira Municipality MP, said UPC had not had a national council meeting in his predecessor’s (Olara Otunnu) reign.

Article12 (3) of the UPC constitution states that the National Council shall meet at least once every year while article 13(3) states that the delegates conference shall meet at least twice every five years.

“There is a need to approve the party roadmap because the one issued by Mr Otunnu expired on July 10 and yet the party has to organise its self for the national elections as per Electoral commission’s road map,” Mr Akena said.

However, Mr Okello Lucima, the spokesperson for the Otunnu-led faction, said Mr Akena has no right to call for the meeting because Mr Otunnu never handed over power to him.

“Mr Akena has no legitimacy to call for any meeting concerning party issues because he has committed crimes by breaking into UPC offices and occupying them without permission,” Mr Lucima said.

“The council is organised by the party national chairman on behalf of the party president who is Prof Edward Kakonge and Mr Otunnu,” he added.

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