"Winning Against Museveni Is Hard For Us!" JEEMA Exits 2026 Presidential Race

As Uganda gears up for the 2026 general elections, the Justice Forum (JEEMA) has announced that it will not field a presidential candidate.

Instead, the party has chosen to focus its energy and resources on parliamentary and sub-national contests, including district, municipal, and sub-county races.

JEEMA’s spokesperson, Swaib Kaggwa Nsereko, explained that the decision was made by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) after careful consideration of the political landscape.

According to Nsereko, the move is aimed at strengthening JEEMA’s grassroots structures and building a solid foundation for future electoral success.

“Unseating a sitting president is not an easy task,” Nsereko said. “Our strategy now is to empower our candidates at the local level and ensure that JEEMA remains relevant across the country.”

The party believes that by focusing on local and parliamentary seats, it can gain more influence and improve its chances of shaping policy and governance from the ground up.

JEEMA has a history of advocating for justice, transparency, and accountability, and the party hopes that concentrating on grassroots politics will allow it to advance these ideals more effectively.

Political analysts say that this decision reflects a pragmatic approach, recognizing the challenges of challenging a long-standing incumbent like President Yoweri Museveni.

The party also intends to use the 2026 election cycle to nurture new leaders, especially young politicians, and create a strong, organized base that can compete effectively in future national elections.

While JEEMA will not compete for the presidency, the party remains committed to playing a critical role in Uganda’s democracy and supporting initiatives that promote good governance and citizen participation at all levels.