President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Ugandans to reject corruption and base their political choices on principles and the national interest, not short-term financial incentives that distort democracy.
“Why should you be influenced and throw away your power to elect your desired candidate? When someone brings money to buy your vote, avoid them. You have the power, don’t throw it away,” President Museveni said.
He made the remarks while addressing a rally in Kituntu Sub-county, Mpigi District on Wednesday, as he concluded his nationwide Parish Development Model (PDM) zonal tour of the Greater Mpigi region.
President Museveni assured citizens that government has instituted measures to prevent vote rigging ahead of the 2026 general elections. He alleged that during the 2021 elections, the opposition rigged 2.7 million votes due to negligence by some NRM officials.
“We have now introduced biometric machines to ensure every person votes only once. Vote rigging will no longer be tolerated,” he emphasized.
During the rally, 184 individuals from other political parties officially joined the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
The President’s tour in Greater Mpigi included engagements with district leaders, PDM SACCO beneficiaries, and farmers in Butambala, Gomba, and Mpigi. The focus was on evaluating household transformation and boosting local enterprises under the PDM initiative.
“I’m happy to return to Kituntu Sub-county after a long time,” Museveni said, highlighting that peace brought by the NRM has enabled citizens to engage in wealth creation and national development.
He pointed to the bustling night-time economy as evidence of peace and progress: “The other day in Gombe, our meeting ran late into the night, but when I returned to Kampala, people were still working with shops open across trading centers.”
President Museveni reflected on Uganda’s educational progress since independence.
“In 1961, there were only six A-level schools. Today, Greater Mpigi alone has 28 government schools offering A-level education,” he noted, urging leaders to help citizens understand Uganda’s development journey since 1986.
He emphasized that although government has provided infrastructure such as roads, health centers, and schools, wealth creation remains an individual responsibility.
“You’ll return from this meeting and still be greeted by the poverty you left at home. That’s why NRM is not in politics for show but to help you escape poverty,” he said.
President Museveni cited examples of successful PDM beneficiaries in Greater Mpigi, including:
Ms. Rashida Namubiru of Kasaka village, Butambala
Ms. Namutebi Deborah of Lusenke village, Gomba
Hajji Muhammad Zziwa, a prominent farmer in Mpigi
“These cases show that PDM can help households escape poverty. Every parish will have its own bank and eliminate moneylenders,” Museveni said.
He explained that each parish will receive Shs 100 million annually. Over five years, this totals Shs 500 million, with additional repayments from beneficiaries potentially increasing it to Shs 800 million.
So far, Shs 33.429 billion has been disbursed to 130 PDM SACCOs in Greater Mpigi. Mpigi District received Shs 14.4 billion, Gomba Shs 12.6 billion, and Butambala Shs 6.428 billion.
Wealth Creation as Job Creation
The President emphasized that wealth creation is key to job creation. Uganda’s government employs 480,000 people out of a population of 46 million.
He cited State Minister for Transport Fred Byamukama’s farm in Kagadi, which employs 26 workers, as an example of job creation through enterprise. Uganda’s industries currently employ 1.2 million people.
Museveni announced plans to construct a district hospital in Mpigi and urged parents to embrace immunization for children, especially against malaria and cervical cancer.
“I’m now 80 years old, but who has heard that Museveni was admitted to hospital? Even during our 5 years in the bush, we stayed healthy,” he said, promoting good health practices.
On HIV/AIDS, he encouraged abstinence and faithfulness to curb the spread of the disease.
NRM Vice Chairperson for Buganda, Hon. Godfrey Kiwanda Suubi, urged leaders and residents in Greater Mpigi to back President Museveni in the 2026 elections.
He also called for a strong show of support for all NRM flag bearers to reverse the losses of 2021, when the party secured only 31 of 105 parliamentary seats in Buganda.
The PDM zonal tours are part of a broader presidential strategy to uplift 3.5 million households from subsistence farming by 2026. Previous tours have covered regions such as Greater Masaka, Teso, Karamoja, Lango, Acholi, Rwenzori, and Ankole.
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