East African Gazette
Dokolo Lira
With only one years left until the 2026 general election, Dokolo supporters of Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) on Saturday January 13,2024 endorsed UPC Party President Jimmy Akena, to contest and appear on the ballot paper in the forthcoming 2026 general presidential elections.
According to supporters say Akena is fit to contest for top office in the Country due to his contribution’s peace building currently being experienced by the people of Northern Uganda after the LRA insurgency
During a Saturday address, hundreds of UPC supporters in Angwecibange, Dokolo Town Council, Dokolo district, highlighted his Akena’s contributions to the people of Dokolo and his active participation in the peace negotiation team that led to the ceasefire, bringing peace to Lango, Acholi, Teso, and other parts of Northern Uganda.
Akena, who is the current Lira City East Division Member of Parliament, said he worked tirelessly for peace during the LRA insurgency. However, he acknowledged that after peace came, new challenges arose, such as a decline in the quality of education, healthcare issues, and poor agricultural outcomes in Lango, Acholi, and Teso.
“When you work hard in your garden, do you get a good yield?” asked Akena. He explained that despite his efforts and lobbying with other leaders, the issues persisted.
“In the 1980 campaigns, when I was still a young boy, I passed through Dokolo with my father and received my first cow in Otuboii. However, in my 17 years in parliament, I have heard people repeatedly cry about their cattle compensation. Many have lost their cattle, and the compensation has not been fully realized,” lamented Akena.
“I am tired of crying every year, ‘Dok Ka-Lango! Dok-ka-Lango!’” emphasized Akena. “Therefore, I have made the decision to go where decisions are made. I am here to seek your opinion, the people of Dokolo. I want to move forward as the leader of UPC, and I cannot do it without your support.”
Akena noted that his politics is not about pulling others down, as he did not rise by stepping on others.
Apio Eunice Otuku, , the MP of Oyam North constituency, praised Akena for his efforts in the last concluded bye-election, where she emerged as the winner and now serves in the 11th parliament.
Karl Peter Emukon, UPC Regional Vice Chairman for Teso Region, led a delegation of Teso UPC leaders who showed massive support for Akena. They teamed up with other UPC top leaders in Dokolo district and Lango sub-Region, stating that they have candidates at grassroots levels for all leadership positions in the 2026 elections.
Peter emphasized their readiness to deliver for UPC in the 2026 general elections, aiming for Uganda House (State House).
Kalaki UPC members, in a memorandum addressed to the party president, Akena, requested office space in Kalaki and Kaberamaido districts.
Other demands included a public address system, decent transport like motorcycles, and the establishment of a Uganda House branch in the region.
In his concluding remarks, Akena thanked the chairman of Dokolo district and the people for their warm welcome. He vowed to continue mobilizing support for the UPC party at all levels across Uganda.
Achola Susan Engola of Apac district, who contested under the same party in the 2021 general election, expressed her interest in contesting again as Apac Woman MP under the UPC party ticket in the 2026 general elections. She promised to look for votes throughout the Apac district for UPC party president Jimmy Akena.
The Akena was accompanied by senior UPC officials, including Fred Ebil Ebil, the UPC secretary-general, Chris Ongom – UPC Vice Chairman for Lango Region, Joel Agabi of Erute South, Ongura Boney, Uhuru Kagwa, Zulu Boy of Apac, and other dignitaries who attended the mobilization rally on Saturday.