LIRA CITY – The President of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Hon.Jimmy Akena, has issued a direct challenge to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, rallying his supporters not to vote for the long-serving leader in the 2026 general elections.
The fiery declaration was made on Monday during the launch of the campaign rally for UPC flag bearers in Lira City East Division, held at Ongura Ward.
Mr. Akena, speaking to a gathering of party faithful, did not mince words as he accused President Museveni of personally blocking his nomination for the presidency in a previous election.
"It is President Yoweri Kaguta who blocked my nomination for the presidency, and I will keep mentioning his name before telling those who love me not to vote for President Museveni," Akena stated, framing the upcoming election as a matter of personal and political retribution.
He directly asked the voters of Lira City East and Lira City West to throw their weight behind all UPC candidates, pledging to personally campaign for the party's flag bearers across the country.
Also addressing the rally was Betty Amongi Akena, the UPC flag bearer for the Lira City Woman MP seat, who is set for a high-stakes contest against the incumbent Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng.
Ms. Amongi detailed her grassroots development record, stating she had already begun work by distributing hoes and providing 728 sewing machines to trained youth in Lira City.
She further claimed to have initiated work on three roads but alleged that she was stopped by Lira City leaders who saw her as a "threat." Additionally, she said she had arranged for a freezer to support women selling fresh fish in the main market but was again "blocked" from seeing the project through.
"To open this, I ask the people of Lira City to elect me on 15th January 2026 so that I can start working for the people of Lira City without hindrance," Amongi appealed to the voters.
The UPC flag bearer for Lira City East Division, James Ocen, popularly known as Agipi, also outlined his vision. He promised to bring tangible development to the division if elected to Parliament.
Mr. Ocen committed to serving everyone without discrimination based on religion, clan, or political affiliation.
"I will work for everybody without segregation," he affirmed. His key promises included improving the education and health sectors, boosting household income generation, and fixing the bad roads that plague Lira City East Division.
The rally in Ongura Ward signals a determined start to the UPC's campaign in the Lango sub-region, setting the stage for a fiercely contested election in 2026.
