A coalition of nine political parties has declared its support for President Yoweri Museveni’s 2026 re-election campaign, among them the once-oppositional National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED), founded by former presidential candidate Joseph Kabuleta.
The unexpected endorsement from NEED follows months of internal wrangling that have left the party divided and weakened. Established in 2022 after Kabuleta’s unsuccessful 2021 presidential run, the party has faced persistent allegations of authoritarian leadership and financial mismanagement, which eroded its unity.
Kabuleta was twice suspended by rival factions within the party, and he in turn suspended several senior officials he accused of working with outside political forces. The internal turmoil eventually pushed Kabuleta out of the 2026 presidential race, weakening his control over the movement he had built.
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 officially pledged their support for Museveni’s re-election bid.
Other members of the coalition 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 alliance is chaired by Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, who also leads the National Consultative Forum — a constitutional body bringing together all registered political parties in Uganda.
During the declaration, Stella Bbira Nambuya of the Republic Women and Youth Party said the coalition was exercising its constitutional right to form alliances and had chosen to back Museveni in recognition of his contribution to Uganda’s progress.
Prime Minister Nabbanja welcomed the endorsement, describing it as a reflection of growing political maturity and cooperation among Ugandan parties committed to national development.
NEED’s move from opposition to alignment with the ruling party marks a striking political turnaround and adds fresh intrigue to Uganda’s fast-shifting 2026 election scene.
