Akena to face UPC disciplinary panel

Lira Municipality MP Jimmy Akena receives a medal from President Museveni. File Photo

Kampala.

The Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) has said it will constitute disciplinary proceedings against Lira Municipality MP Jimmy Akena for calling what they termed as an illegal delegates conference that purportedly endorsed him as the duly elected party president.

UPC vice president Joseph Bossa said yesterday whatever Mr Akena did with the delegates he assembled at UMA Show Grounds in Lugogo, Kampala, was outside the party constitution.

“We urge UPC members to stay away from the acts of Mr Akena because in the meantime, the party is preparing disciplinary action against him and the group,” Mr Bossa told journalists at Speke Hotel in Kampala yesterday.

Mr Bossa said UPC leadership remains unchanged as the party president is only elected by a legally constituted delegates’ conference and not hand-picked individuals. “Mr Akena is a puppet. He is being used by NRM,” Mr Bossa said.

However, NRM deputy spokesperson, Mr Ofwono Opondo, said: “These people are running away form their own shadows because how can an NRM puppet takeover power when you are looking on? They should find a way to solve their problems within the party,” Mr Opondo said.

On Wednesday, Mr Akena called for a meeting he disguised as a consultative convention which was later transformed into the party delegate’s conference that endorsed and saw him hastily sworn in.

The MP announced the appointment of a transitional committee chaired by Mr Patrick Mwondha to prepare for his eventual presidency.

In response, Mr Otunnu appointed a team of eminent UPC elders chaired by Prof Patrick Rubaihayo to probe the conduct of Mr Akena and the circumstances under which the party’s electoral commission declared Akena winner.

Mr Akena criticised the proposed commission of inquiry, saying it is has no base and way forward.