Kampala – Nine political parties, including some that previously identified with the opposition, have come together to form a new coalition pledging support for President Yoweri Museveni’s 2026 reelection campaign.
The alliance, unveiled after a meeting with Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja at her office in Kampala on Wednesday evening, features the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) — a party founded by former presidential candidate Joseph Kabuleta — alongside eight other parties.
The coalition, chaired by Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, who also leads the National Consultative Forum (NCF), includes the Republic Women and Youth Party, Liberal Democratic Transparency (LDT), Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP), and the Congress Service Volunteers Organisation (COSEVO), among others.
Speaking during the event, Republic Women and Youth Party leader Stella Bbira Nambuya said the group’s decision to rally behind President Museveni was driven by his continued contribution to Uganda’s stability and development. She emphasized that the coalition was exercising its constitutional right to form political alliances.
Prime Minister Nabbanja commended the parties for their decision, describing it as a sign of growing political unity and maturity. She said their collaboration signified a commitment to working together for the country’s socio-economic transformation.
The move marks a dramatic shift for NEED, which has been struggling with internal wrangles since its inception. The party, launched by Kabuleta in 2022 following his 2021 presidential run, has suffered from factional disputes over leadership and alleged financial impropriety. Kabuleta himself was twice suspended by party members, before retaliating by expelling several top officials he accused of betrayal.
The infighting left NEED divided and weakened, ultimately preventing Kabuleta from securing nomination for the 2026 presidential race.
With NEED’s leadership now joining forces with other parties to support President Museveni, the latest development underscores a realignment within Uganda’s political landscape ahead of the 2026 elections — one that could further consolidate the ruling party’s support base while reshaping opposition dynamics.
