The National Economic Empowerment Dialogue(NEED) president, Joseph Kabuleta has fired back at the party executives that last week suspended him over what they termed as “misconduct.”
Addressing journalists on Tuesday in Kampala, Kabuleta, who is also seeking to stand for president in the forthcoming 2026 general election said the said committee members who suspended him are self-seekers.
“If the National Executive Committee meets without the president who is me, the meeting is null and void. According to the constitution of NEED, I am(president) the only one who can call for a NEC meeting and I have to chair it. The meeting has to be chaired either by the president or someone whom he has given permission to do so,” Kabuleta said.
In a statement by the NEED spokesperson, Moses Matovu last week, the suspension for Kabuleta for 90 days stemmed for failure by Kabuleta to appear before NEC to have the matters solved amicably.
The NEED National Executive Committee accuses Kabuleta of declaring himself the party presidential flag bearer for 2026 without approval from NEC and the delegates conference.
They also accuse him of undermining the party and running a parallel faction outside the party structures.
Speaking on Tuesday, Kabuleta insisted he is still the party president, noting that the said NEC meeting that is said to have suspended him was convened illegally.
“What they did was a clown show and coming up with resolutions. I didn’t call that meeting, neither did I designate anyone to chair it and therefore, whatever they purport to have come out of that meeting is null and void.”
“I am not under suspension and I will not be under any suspension. That is wishful thinking from them.”
Further aiming jibes at the said executive members, Kabuleta said whereas parties are governed and guided by a constitution, press conferences like one where the said decision to suspend him was communicated are not governed by anything.
“I can also call a press conference here and say I have chased Museveni from being the president.”
He insisted he is still the president of the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue(NEED), adding that he will stand for presidency for the forthcoming general election, noting that the party will continue with its roadmap.
“I am going to stand for presidency as president of NEED and no one is going to stop this. The media can write whatever they want but there is a constitution we follow.”
At the same event, Kabuleta unveiled his official campaign poster for 2026 elections.
