Joseph Kiiza Kabuleta has firmly ruled out joining any political coalitions ahead of Uganda’s 2026 general elections, warning that alliances based on expediency rather than shared principles only serve to weaken genuine opposition.
Speaking just days before the official launch of his new political outfit — the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) — the former presidential candidate said past coalition experiences left him disillusioned.
“Our past experiences taught us a lot. People used me for their own gains. Many are just jumping onto anything to push their profiles. We will not join any coalition simply to add numbers,” Kabuleta said during a press briefing.
“If it’s not based on shared principles, we’re not interested.”
Kabuleta, a former journalist and preacher who ran for president in 2021, said NEED’s foundation is built on economic transformation and principled leadership — not transactional politics. He criticised what he called Uganda’s “bandwagon culture,” where alliances are hastily formed around personalities rather than ideas.
He also dismissed growing allegations that his party is a creation of the state designed to fragment the opposition.
“I am not just a survivor — I funded my own campaign, traversed the entire country and don’t need any handouts from those clowns,” he said.
“These labels are tactics meant to silence independent voices that challenge the status quo.”
Kabuleta accused the Electoral Commission of bias, claiming NEED’s registration was deliberately delayed despite meeting all legal requirements.
“We were the last. Political parties that registered after us received their certificates before us. But the Bible says those who come last will be first,” he quipped.
“The delay in registering our party is proof that the Electoral Commission is not as independent as it claims.”
The party was eventually granted a registration certificate on June 26, 2025, after a protracted wait. NEED now has a green light to field candidates in the upcoming elections.
The party’s launch is slated for July 23, during which Kabuleta will present NEED’s electoral roadmap and open the door for nominations from aspiring candidates nationwide.
He confirmed that he will lead the party into the presidential race as its official flag bearer.
As Uganda’s political field gets more crowded in the run-up to 2026, Kabuleta is positioning NEED as an alternative grounded in ideology, not political arithmetic.
“We are not for sale. We’re here to build a Uganda where economic dignity is a right, not a privilege,” he said.