As Uganda prepares for the 2026 general elections, the Justice Forum (JEEMA) has announced that it will not field a candidate for the presidency.
Instead, the party plans to concentrate its efforts on parliamentary and sub-national contests, including district, municipal, and sub-county elections.
JEEMA’s spokesperson, Swaib Kaggwa Nsereko, said the decision was made by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) after carefully assessing the political landscape.
According to Nsereko, this strategy is aimed at strengthening JEEMA’s grassroots structures and building a solid foundation for future electoral success. “Unseating a sitting president is not an easy task,” he noted. “Our focus now is to empower candidates at the local level and ensure JEEMA remains relevant across the country.”
By prioritizing local and parliamentary seats, the party believes it can gain more influence and have a greater role in shaping policy and governance from the ground up. JEEMA hopes that this approach will also help advance its longstanding values of justice, transparency, and accountability.
Political analysts describe the move as pragmatic, acknowledging the challenges of running against a long-standing incumbent like President Yoweri Museveni. The party also aims to use the election cycle to nurture new leaders, particularly young politicians, and build a strong, organized base for future national contests.
While JEEMA will not contest the presidency, it remains committed to contributing to Uganda’s democracy by promoting good governance, citizen participation, and active political engagement at all levels.
