The retreat for the newly elected NRM MPs and party-leaning Independents at the National Leadership Institute, Kyankwanzi. has been officially opened by President Yoweri Museveni who urged the new leaders to work for the prosperity of their constituents while also ensuring national peace and security .
Museveni emphasised that the new leaders must deepen their understanding of ideology, philosophy and strategy in order to diagnose society’s problems and prescribe solutions.
” This generation must end poverty by creating prosperity through production, not begging or corruption. Every adult must earn from producing a good or a service,” Museveni stated .
The retreat, themed “Aligning the NRM leadership towards protecting the gains and making a bold, qualitative leap towards a higher middle-income status society,” gathers newly elected MPs, senior party officials, and independent legislators.
He urged leaders to focus on the 68% of the population still stuck in subsistence agriculture, stressing that the party’s primary goal must be moving them into the money economy.
In a notable comparison, Museveni cited recent lunar missions by other nations as a wake-up call for Africa, warning that while others are exploring space, Africa remains behind in technological advancement.
NRM Secretary General , Richard Todwong noted that the retreat serves as a critical platform for guiding Parliament’s legislative agenda and reinforcing party unity ahead of the next term.
Todwong called on the leaders to use the retreat as a moment of reflection on their constituencies, the country’s future, and the party’s direction, urging them to minimize distractions and fully engage in the discussions.
“We are here at a time when many issues affecting our country require thoughtful deliberation,” he said, adding that the serene environment at NALI should allow members to reflect deeply and contribute meaningfully to national discourse.
He also congratulated the MPs on their election to the 12th Parliament, acknowledging the challenges of the electoral process and assuring those with pending election petitions of the party’s continued support.
The Secretary General further extended an invitation to Independent MPs to work closely with the NRM, revealing that arrangements are in place to integrate willing legislators into the party’s activities through a memorandum of cooperation.
On her part, Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja-Nsereko outlined the structure, objectives, and expectations of the retreat, emphasizing the need for ideological alignment and collective focus among party leaders.
She said the retreat, running from April 7 to April 15, is held under the theme of aligning NRM leaders to protect the country’s gains and accelerate Uganda’s transition to higher middle-income status.
Namayanja noted that the program will feature presentations from the Party National Chairman, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, senior party leaders, cabinet ministers, technocrats, academia, and private sector players to provide a broad perspective on national issues.
