Joseph Kabuleta, the suspended founder and president of the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED), has accused his party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) of conspiring with former Leader of the Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, to undermine his leadership.
Kabuleta, who was recently handed a 90-day suspension by the NEC, has vowed to contest in the 2026 presidential elections even if it means running as an independent candidate.
“There’s no legal basis in the party constitution for removing me. I will still contest for the presidency, even if I have to run independently, just like I did in 2021,” Kabuleta told New Vision.
He alleges that members of the NEC have been working behind the scenes with Mpuuga, who recently launched the Democratic Front, and with Democratic Party president and current Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Hon. Norbert Mao.
“They claim to have long-standing ties through the Uganda Young Democrats, a youth wing connected to Norbert Mao, and have openly supported rival parties serious political party allows its senior officials to wear rival party t-shirts, carry their membership cards, or even participate in another party’s delegates’ conference without a formal agreement in place.” Joseph Kabuleta said.
Kabuleta also pointed fingers at NEED spokesperson Moses Matovu, who publicly announced his suspension. According to Kabuleta, Matovu has been collaborating with forces working to oust him from the party a move he says led to Matovu’s earlier dismissal.
In contrast, the NEC maintains that Kabuleta’s suspension is rooted in disciplinary issues. They accuse him of unilaterally declaring himself the party’s presidential flag bearer in the 2021 elections, among other internal violations.
