President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Wednesday led Members of Parliament through a shooting practice session at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, using the exercise to underscore the importance of national defence, discipline, and the fight against corruption.
The session marked the final activity of the MPs’ one-week retreat, which ran from April 7 to 14, 2026, under the theme: “Aligning the NRM leadership towards protecting the gains and making a bold, qualitative leap towards a higher middle-income status society.”
President Museveni personally guided legislators on basic firearms handling, observed their participation, and commended their performance, noting that some had prior military experience.
“I congratulate the participants. I can see some of them are veterans,” he said.
He explained that Uganda’s security framework is anchored on the concept of a “people’s army,” where citizens receive basic military training and remain available as a reserve force when needed.
“Ours is a people’s army. We encourage citizens to learn the science of arms so that in case of any threat, we can mobilise numbers for national defence,” he said.
The President added that such an approach enables even countries with smaller populations to build strong defence systems through continuous training and mobilisation. He cited countries like Israel, where citizens regularly undergo refresher training.
Reflecting on Uganda’s past, Museveni pointed to instances where trained local defence units were mobilised to address security challenges, highlighting the value of preparedness.
Turning to governance, the President warned that corruption remains the biggest threat to national progress and called on legislators to take a firm stand against it.
“The first thing you must do is to fight corruption. If you don’t, all these efforts will be for nothing,” he said.
He cautioned MPs against bribery and vote-buying, describing the practice as harmful to leadership and national development.
“Do not bribe voters. You cannot give someone a small amount of money to decide leadership for five years. That is wrong,” he emphasised.
Museveni also urged leaders to exercise financial discipline, advising them to utilise support systems such as savings and credit cooperatives instead of relying on unsustainable borrowing.
“A bankrupt leader should not be a leader. Stand on your own and work with the systems we have put in place,” he said.
He noted that government efforts have historically focused on improving soldiers’ welfare through initiatives such as education, housing, healthcare, and SACCOs like Wazalendo.
“We did not have much money for high salaries, but we focused on supporting soldiers through education, housing, and healthcare,” he explained.
The President further encouraged families of soldiers to engage in productive economic activities to boost household incomes without resorting to corrupt practices.
Call to Service
As the retreat concluded, President Museveni urged MPs to return to their constituencies with renewed commitment to service, integrity, and wealth creation among wananchi.
He stressed that Uganda’s transformation depends on disciplined leadership, elimination of corruption, and empowering citizens to participate in the money economy.
“I wish you good luck as you go back to serve your constituencies,” he said.
Meanwhile, Col. Okei Rukogota, Director of NALI, thanked the President for inaugurating the institute’s shooting range, noting that it will enhance civilian training in basic defence skills.
He said the initiative aligns with the President’s long-standing guidance to equip citizens with practical skills to strengthen security and reduce violence.
“This is testimony that you have never been a dictator, because dictators cannot empower citizens with the means of defence,” Col. Rukogota said.
He also commended the President for continuing to empower wananchi to safeguard the country’s democratic and transformation processes.
