President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State to dedicate themselves to Uganda’s historic mission of socio-economic transformation, urging them to help move the country from subsistence living to a modern, prosperous and industrialized economy.
The President made the remarks on Monday while officially opening a 10-day Cabinet Induction Retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI), Kyankwanzi, attended by newly appointed ministers and senior government officials.
Describing Kyankwanzi as “a place of sacrifice,” President Museveni reminded leaders that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) was founded on selflessness and service to the people.
“This is a place of sacrifice. The NRM is a party of sacrifice. People who let us down are people looking for their own things,” he said.
President Museveni cautioned against ideological disorientation among leaders, stressing that public service must be guided by political education, discipline and a clear understanding of leadership, rather than personal ambition.
Quoting from the Church of Uganda prayer book, the President noted that some leaders “leave undone what they ought to have done,” saying the retreat was designed to address such shortcomings and reorient ministers toward effective service delivery.
“I have noticed a decline in political awareness among leaders. In order to help yourself, you must understand how to help your people,” he said.
The President distinguished political education from propaganda, arguing that sustainable leadership depends on knowledge and ideological grounding.
“Political education is knowledge and understanding, whereas propaganda is merely about exciting people,” he said.
President Museveni warned that since 1986, some individuals had infiltrated government institutions for personal gain, including businessmen seeking favors, careerists and individuals using public offices to enrich themselves and their families.
He said such tendencies undermine national transformation and called on ministers to uphold integrity, patriotism and discipline in public service.
Reflecting on the evolution of societies, President Museveni referenced the works of German philosopher and economist Karl Marx, whom he described as one of history’s greatest analysts despite differing with some of his conclusions.
“By 1848, Karl Marx had identified several social systems. I do not agree with some of his conclusions, but he was one of the best analysts,” he said.
The President outlined the historical progression of societies from primitive communalism and slave systems to feudalism, capitalism and socialism, arguing that leaders must understand economic evolution in order to transform their countries.
According to President Museveni, Uganda’s central challenge remains completing the transition from pre-capitalist structures to a modern economy driven by production, industrialization, value addition and wealth creation.
He criticized the colonial economic model introduced by the British after 1894, saying it limited Uganda to exporting raw materials such as coffee, cotton, tea and copper.
“They were not interested in creating a modern society. By 1962, only nine percent of Uganda’s population was in the money economy,” he said.
The President explained that at Independence, Uganda’s economy revolved around the “3Cs and 3Ts” — Coffee, Cotton and Copper; and Tobacco, Tea and Tourism — with most commodities exported in raw or semi-processed form.
Citing recent concerns raised by Ugandans abroad over semi-processed tea exports through regional markets, he emphasized the need for greater value addition to increase incomes and create jobs.
He said processing, packaging and branding Ugandan products locally would enable the country to maximize value from its natural resources.
“The purpose of leadership is to transform society. We must move our people from subsistence production into the money economy and build a modern society,” President Museveni emphasized.
He reiterated that the NRM’s core mission since inception has been socio-economic transformation through participation in the money economy and access to education.
The President identified commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as the four strategic sectors expected to drive Uganda’s transformation.
He challenged ministers to mobilize citizens household by household to embrace commercial production and wealth creation, noting that leadership should be measured by tangible improvements in people’s livelihoods.
President Museveni also highlighted progress in parts of Uganda’s cattle corridor, where communities have gradually transitioned from traditional pastoralism to commercial agriculture.
Recalling efforts made in the 1960s to encourage pastoral communities to adopt settled agriculture, he acknowledged resistance due to cultural attachment to nomadism but said significant socio-economic transformation had since been achieved.
He, however, warned against challenges such as land fragmentation, low productivity, poor pasture management and inadequate irrigation.
The President urged communities to adopt modern farming methods and collective investment models, including shareholding arrangements instead of physically subdividing land.
“We cannot continue to have peasants in Uganda. Every family must move from subsistence living into the middle class or the skilled working class,” he emphasized.
President Museveni said the historical responsibility of African leaders — both during and after the independence struggle — has always been socio-economic transformation.
“We must build a middle class in Africa. We must build a skilled working class in Africa,” he said.
“In this Kisanja, I do not want any excuses. The challenge is socio-economic transformation. Peasants must disappear from Uganda; they must become either middle class or skilled middle class,” he added.
The President further called for stronger coordination among ministries and government agencies to support farmers through irrigation, mechanization, disease control, improved enterprise selection and better market access.
Vice President Jessica Alupo said President Museveni’s recent electoral victory reflected continued public trust in his leadership.
She described the Kyankwanzi retreat as more than an induction programme, saying it offered ministers an opportunity to gain knowledge and prepare for their responsibilities.
Alupo urged ministers to contribute toward Uganda’s ambitious development goals, including growing the economy to USD 500 billion, while reaffirming Cabinet’s commitment to fighting corruption.
“We shall confront corruption and deliver diligently,” she pledged.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja thanked President Museveni for entrusting them with leadership responsibilities and pledged commitment to delivering government programmes.
“Your Excellency, the theme of this retreat directly aligns with your call: no more sleep, no more corruption,” she said.
Nabbanja noted that attaining upper middle-income status would require deepening agro-industrialization, expanding participation in the money economy and investing in critical infrastructure, including roads, railways, schools and health facilities.
She pledged that government would strengthen physical monitoring of projects to ensure effective implementation and improved service delivery.
Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, Ms Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, reminded ministers that their appointments reflected the President’s confidence in their capabilities and urged them to deliver measurable results.
She said the retreat, themed “Leading Government with Integrity, Discipline and Results: Delivering Uganda to Upper Middle-Income Status,” was intended to equip ministers with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective public service.
“The President has sounded a wake-up call. You must all go to the field and work there. No more time for relaxing and rolling away your chairs,” she cautioned.
Nakyobe further urged leaders to lead by example in the fight against corruption, describing graft as a major obstacle to Uganda’s ambition of attaining upper middle-income status.
The Cabinet Induction Retreat is expected to deepen ministers’ understanding of government priorities and align their work with Uganda’s development agenda for the 2026–2031 period.
