Former presidential candidate Joseph Kiiza Kabuleta, has launched National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) as a political party in Uganda.
Last year, Kabuleta launched NEED as a political organization that would carry an ideology in a bid to take over the leadership of this country. NEED is transitioning from the People’s United Movement (PUM), a political party that was established in October 2005. The party symbol, a cow has since been changed to maize. The party colors have remained black and white.
During the delegate’s conference which was held yesterday at NEED offices in Bugolobi, Kabuleta was elected the party president. He will be deputized by Evelyn Rakel. Kabuleta named Asuman Odaka as the party Secretary General, and Mulangira Juuko Nakibinge as the Secretary of publicity.
According to Kabuleta, in 2020, he was approached by Shadrach Ogemba, the president of PUM who persuaded him to join the party because they had the same ideology, which he did.
Speaking at NEED offices in Bugolobi, Kabuleta said they chose economic empowerment as their creed because it is the truest form of empowerment and we know that our oppressors have built a population that is dependent on them for sustenance and is therefore easy to subjugate.
“One year later we are taking one bold step forward launching NEED as a political party,” Kabuleta said.
“I know that the love we have for this country is shared by millions of Ugandans. We meet them every day and they express their dismay at the direction the country is taking. But the one thing we do not share with many is the despondency, the sense of resignation that I see in many quarters,” he said.
Kabuleta said them plunders know that their time is up. In public, they speak like they are tightening their grip on power but in private they hope that they can be allowed to retain their loot after Ugandans have reclaimed their country.
“I know there are many people in diverse sectors who choose to hold onto the system and even oil it not because they don’t see its evil but because of an unknown future. They don’t know what it holds for them.”
He said the change that NEED proposes will be to the benefit of everyone. It is not the kind of change that causes disruption, disorder, or that seeks to settle old scores. That is not who we are. We are not vindictive people. In our relentless pursuit of a bright future for all Ugandans, we shall have little time to indulge in the past.
“Some people from the forces; army police and intelligence have intimated to me that they signed up to protect their nation but found themselves serving the interests of one family. We shall give them an opportunity to do exactly what they signed up for with an appreciation, better remuneration and improved working conditions.”
As the Party, Kabuleta said their priority will be the millions of destitute people dispersed across the country. We believe that is possible to empower people and put money in their pockets without giving them handouts.
