Kampala, Uganda — A coalition of nine political parties has thrown its weight behind President Yoweri Museveni’s 2026 reelection bid, including the once-oppositional party founded by former presidential candidate Joseph Kabuleta.
The surprise endorsement by the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) comes amid months of internal strife that have left the party divided and weakened. Formed in 2022 after Kabuleta’s failed 2021 presidential run, NEED has struggled to maintain cohesion amid allegations of authoritarian leadership and financial mismanagement.
Kabuleta was twice suspended by rival factions within the party, only to retaliate by suspending several top officials whom he accused of colluding with external political forces. The infighting eventually sidelined Kabuleta from the 2026 presidential race, diminishing his grip on the movement he once led.
On Wednesday evening, NEED representatives joined leaders from eight other parties in a meeting with Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja at her office in Kampala, where they formally pledged support for President Museveni’s reelection campaign.
Other parties in the alliance include the Republic Women and Youth Party, Liberal Democratic Transparency (LDT), Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP), and the Congress Service Volunteers Organisation (COSEVO), among others.
The coalition is chaired by Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, who also heads the National Consultative Forum, a constitutional body that brings together all registered political parties in Uganda.
During the announcement, Stella Bbira Nambuya of the Republic Women and Youth Party said the coalition was acting within its constitutional right to form alliances and had chosen to back Museveni in recognition of his contribution to Uganda’s development.
Prime Minister Nabbanja welcomed the endorsement, describing it as a sign of growing political maturity and cooperation among Ugandan parties in pursuit of national progress.
NEED’s shift from opposition to alignment with the ruling party marks a notable political reversal and adds a new layer of intrigue to Uganda’s rapidly evolving 2026 election landscape.
Biased story!