President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Wednesday officially opened a week-long retreat for newly elected National Resistance Movement (NRM) Members of Parliament and party-leaning independents at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.
Held under the theme “Aligning the NRM leadership towards protecting the gains and making a bold, qualitative leap towards a higher middle-income status society,” the retreat aims to equip legislators with ideological clarity and policy direction as they begin their term in the 12th Parliament.
Upon arrival, the President was received by Vice President Jessica Alupo, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong, and members of the Central Executive Committee.
In his address, President Museveni congratulated the legislators on their electoral victory but urged them to reflect on areas requiring improvement.
“I congratulate all of you for winning the elections and the NRM for the big victory, although we could have done more if we addressed some weaknesses,” he said.
He also extended condolences to families of fallen party members from Kikube and Abim, describing their deaths as a setback to the movement.
The President challenged MPs to transition from being mere supporters to informed leaders grounded in the party’s ideology, philosophy, and strategy.
“You are now leaders. A follower may not go deep into the beliefs of the movement, but a leader must fully understand its ideology and direction,” he noted, likening the Kyankwanzi retreat to a “seminary” for political grounding.
He explained that ideology involves diagnosing societal challenges and prescribing solutions, while philosophy focuses on understanding human nature, and strategy on applying effective methods to address national issues.
On economic transformation, President Museveni emphasized production as the foundation of prosperity, warning against dependency and corruption.
“Prosperity does not come from begging or corruption. Every adult must produce a good or service and earn from it,” he said.
He cautioned against identity-based politics, noting that sectarianism limits market opportunities and economic growth. He instead emphasized patriotism and Pan-Africanism as key drivers of market expansion and integration.
The President urged leaders to support regional and continental initiatives such as the East African Community and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), stressing that “integration means strength, while fragmentation means weakness.”
He outlined the NRM’s four ideological pillars—patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy—as central to achieving Africa’s goals of prosperity, strategic security, and unity.
Reflecting on Africa’s history, President Museveni said the current generation bears the responsibility of transforming the continent from its past marked by slavery and colonial poverty.
He reiterated the importance of private sector-led growth in Uganda’s economic progress and identified commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT as key sectors for wealth creation.
The President also issued a stern warning against corruption, describing it as a major threat to government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM).
“If you are corrupt, you waste government resources and set a bad example. I will not tolerate corruption,” he said, calling on leaders to act as “clean brooms.”
Drawing from personal experience, he underscored the value of hard work and self-reliance, revealing how he grew his wealth from 22 cows in 1965 to thousands today.
Vice President Jessica Alupo, who chaired the session, welcomed the President and congratulated both him and the legislators on their electoral success. She described the retreat as an important opportunity for leaders to receive guidance from the party chairman.
NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong also welcomed the President and commended him for leading a successful campaign, noting that a detailed report on election performance would be presented during the retreat.
During the interactive session, Masaka City Woman MP Justine Nameere raised concerns about corruption in the health sector, particularly the disappearance of drugs in public hospitals.
In response, President Museveni assured participants that corruption, including the theft of medicines, would be dealt with firmly in the new term.
“Corruption, including the theft of drugs in government hospitals, will be tackled decisively,” he said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to accountability and improved service delivery.
