“The Supreme Court has kicked Uganda People’s Congress president, Jimmy Akena out of office. In its ruling, the highest court in the land said there existed no exceptional circumstances that warranted it to hear an application without first obtaining the leave of the Court of Appeal as had been requested by UPC and its electoral commission. “From the foregoing discussion, we find that the application no longer bears exceptional circumstances as a basis for it to be filed in this court.” The Supreme Court’s ruling followed a 2015 ruling by the High Court that Akena is not the legitimate UPC president and consequently, threw him out office” (95.7 Radio Rupiny, 16.10.2023).
With passing time things can become fickle. The times of hardships, lockouts and even embarrassing means to undress an public figure. One that went through it all and didn’t catch much luck in office was Olara Otunnu. Since he took Office as the Party President of the Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC). Even the party called him out as far back as 2011 for his decisions. It even did so publicly after decisions made to reform the party.
That’s why you know things get reckless and the wheels falls off when it storms. The UPC has gone through a prolonged court battle. It has been going on for years. Akena himself is on his second term as the Party President and the incumbent one at that. While Otunnu was forced into retirement and fellow peers left the party or has fought for it over the years.
The UPC of Otunnu is history. There is to much water under the bridge. The ones who stood by or believed in Otunnu won’t be there tomorrow. The UPC that they knew is gone. It is all Jimmy Akena. Akena has run the show and it’s in his image it portrays itself.
Not that its clever or wise, but it is telling. The Supreme Court will in all practicality have no consequences for Akena or the ones his associated with. Because, that term is already over and he will not budge. There is no reason for him to retreat and give way. Akena is the Party President and was re-elected one more time in 2020. So, even if he did cheat or rig the system in 2015. It doesn’t matter now. His not living on that term or needs to forfeit anything. Akena is charge and Otunnu got no say.
Otunnu can just stay silent. His winning without even saying a word. He can be in the shadows and lurk as much as he wants. There is no reason for him to be public either. It is the ones that was hostile and brutal towards him years ago who has to answer. They got to defend their actions and their methods of eviction. That’s what is happening now. It is to be blunt… bloody and dirty laundry for the general public to see.
Akena doesn’t want this out and neither his allies. No, they rather want to live in harmony and forget the whole thing. It is the past and no one should question the past. The past is the past and you can’t rectify the past. That is true, but the past is important in the present. It shows what intent and what you are willing to do for your own personal gains. That’s why Akena cannot morally or ethically be Party President. However, we know he don’t mind… he clearly lived on a lie and it wasn’t even an technicality. If it had been.. the Supreme Court wouldn’t have sided and ordered it this way.
Otunnu won’t return. If he speaks… it would be a surprise. He won’t get the title or the respect he deserves either. No, that’s not in the cards. The times of humbly taking over or doing things with caution is over. That is proven and it even got addressed in the courts.
The UPC had deserved better, it really did and the wounds are still fresh. As a man who looked up to and admired Otunnu. It was just tragic to see what went down in 2015 and he deserved so much better… but here we are and no need to moment of nostalgia. There is nothing to gain.
Just like the Supreme Court Order won’t change the dynamics or the formation of the UPC. It will cause a stir and question Akena. However, he will just swing through the storm and call it a night. He got it all and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Peace.