A planned Delegates Conference by the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has been halted by a High Court order, following an ongoing legal dispute over the party’s leadership.
The Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala issued the interim injunction on Friday, just a day before the conference was due to take place. The ruling, delivered by Lady Justice Joyce Kavuma, came in response to an urgent application by long-serving party member and internal critic, Joseph Pinytek Ochieno.
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Ochieno, through his lawyers from JByamukama & Co. Advocates, argued that allowing the UPC to proceed with the conference—particularly under the leadership of Jimmy Akena—would undermine ongoing legal proceedings. He contends that Akena’s position as party president is illegitimate and remains the subject of a separate, unresolved court case (Miscellaneous Cause No. 89 of 2021).
The planned conference, which Akena had reportedly insisted would be held virtually despite concerns raised by police, was described by Ochieno’s legal team as a defiant attempt to sidestep judicial scrutiny and court directives.
In court, lawyer Jude Byamukama highlighted a communication from the Inspector General of Police advising against holding the event due to security risks. Despite this, Akena had notified the Electoral Commission of plans to proceed online—a move the applicant described as both reckless and unlawful.
Central to the dispute is a 2020 Court of Appeal ruling that ordered the UPC to conduct fresh internal elections. Ochieno maintains that Akena never participated in those elections, which were reportedly won by Peter Walubiri, further calling into question Akena’s legitimacy to lead party activities.
Ochieno warned that allowing the Delegates Conference to proceed could result in irreversible decisions—such as the election or endorsement of new leaders—under questionable authority.
Surprisingly, Akena’s lawyer, Fred Busingye, did not oppose the application. He conceded in court that his client had, on several occasions, defied prior court orders, and acknowledged that pushing ahead with the conference would amount to contempt of court.
In her ruling, Justice Kavuma said the case met the legal threshold for interim relief, citing urgency and the risk of irreparable consequences. She noted that the main application challenging Akena’s presidency is scheduled for hearing on July 29, and the Delegates Conference—set for July 20—posed a real threat to the integrity of the judicial process.
“This application was filed without inordinate delay, considering the circumstances that led to the call of the Delegates Conference. It is my finding that the applicant has proved that this application has not been brought in bad faith,” the judge stated.
Justice Kavuma also referenced past court decisions which established that interim orders may be granted when the risk of injustice outweighs the need for prior notice to the opposing party.
The ruling now temporarily restrains the UPC, Jimmy Akena, and their associates from holding the Delegates Conference—physically or virtually—until the main case is heard. The interim order will remain in effect for three days, lapsing after the scheduled court session next week.
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