UPC’s Akena Slams Government Over ‘Misplaced Priorities,’ Vows to Defend Obote’s Legacy Amidst Political Row

LCC TV NEWS

KAMPALA, Uganda – The President of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), Jimmy Akena, has launched a blistering attack on the ruling government, accusing it of grossly misplacing national priorities by prioritizing security expenditures over the fundamental needs of its citizens.

Speaking to journalists at the party’s headquarters at Uganda House in Kampala, Akena voiced deep concern over the government’s fiscal strategy, asserting that the continued heavy investment in military operations stands in stark contrast to the deteriorating conditions in public health and education sectors.

“The government’s priorities are misplaced,” Akena stated emphatically. He argued that while the administration engages in relentless military recruitment, millions of Ugandans are left grappling with inadequate healthcare services and dilapidated educational infrastructure. “We cannot continue to channel billions into security while our children die of preventable diseases and our classrooms remain overcrowded and understaffed.”

Akena highlighted the persistent shortage of essential medicines in government-run health facilities, noting that treatable ailments like malaria continue to claim young lives due to systemic neglect. He further lamented the state of public schools, which he said are failing to provide learners with a conducive environment for quality education, thereby perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.

The UPC leader did not mince words regarding the broader economic context, pointing to soaring public debt and rampant corruption as further evidence of a government that has lost touch with the grassroots reality. He called for a radical shift in budgetary allocation, urging the executive to invest heavily in social services and citizen welfare as the primary engines for national development.

In a more personal and historical vein, Akena responded to recent remarks made by President Yoweri Museveni before Parliament regarding Uganda’s political history. Without directly quoting the President, Akena moved to defend the legacy of his father, former President Apollo Milton Obote, insisting that the late leader’s contributions to Uganda’s statehood must be viewed through an objective historical lens.

“Milton Obote was a leader committed to building national institutions and promoting constitutional governance,” Akena asserted. He rejected what he termed as attempts to paint Obote’s leadership in a negative light using contemporary political narratives. “We will not allow the revisionist history being peddled to diminish the role Obote played in the liberation and formation of this nation. His legacy must be judged within the context of his time, not through the partisan politics of today.”

Akena’s defense of his father’s record serves as a direct counter to President Museveni’s recent critiques, adding fuel to an ongoing political debate regarding the foundational history of Uganda’s post-independence governance. The remarks are expected to further polarize the political landscape, as both the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the opposition trade barbs over the country’s trajectory.

While acknowledging the efforts of individuals working towards peace and stability, Akena criticized the government for failing to adequately recognize and support these peace-builders. He reiterated the UPC’s long-standing position that social investment must take precedence over what he described as “excessive securitization” of the state.

Akena’s address underscores a growing discontent among opposition factions regarding the government’s spending priorities. As Uganda approaches the next electoral cycle, the debate over resource allocation—and the contest over historical legacies—is poised to take center stage in the nation’s political discourse.