NEED Occasion Holds First Delegates Convention, Launches Membership Drive and Units Eyes on 2026.

By Nabakiibi Dorren Malaika

The National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) has officially entered the political arena with its first National Delegates Conference since being registered as a political party in Uganda.

Held in Kampala, the event marked a major turning point for the party, transitioning from a movement focused on dialogue to a fully structured political organisation. The party unveiled its official membership card and announced a nationwide registration drive as it gears up for the 2026 general elections.

With a maize comb as its symbol, NEED says it wants to till Uganda’s political landscape and plant seeds of economic transformation. Party President Joseph Kabuleta pledged to make economic empowerment the heartbeat of the party’s agenda.

From rural farmers to urban traders, NEED is appealing to citizens across the board to rally behind what it describes as a home-grown, people-centered movement.

The party’s leaders stressed that their focus is on practical solutions to Uganda’s economic challenges and shifting power closer to the grassroots.