At a grand ceremony hosted at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort Hotel which drew Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, senior NRM officials, party secretariat leaders, under the theme: “Protecting the Gains and Securing a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status”, President Museveni retraced the NRM’s 60-year historical struggle while also laying out ambitious commitments for the next five years.
President Museveni expressed gratitude to the NRM delegates for once again entrusting him with leadership. He noted that the party had not only re-elected him as National Chairman for the 2025–2031 term but also nominated him as the flag bearer for the 2026 elections.
“I want to thank you for supporting my candidature, first of all, electing me Chairman of the NRM again for another five years, 2025 to 2031, and then also electing me as flag bearer,” H.E. Museveni said, reminding the gathering that the NRM’s role in Uganda’s liberation stretches back decades.
He described the liberation struggle between 1965 and 1986 as a decisive period when NRM leaders risked all to free the country from dictatorship and chaos.
The President declared that the NRM’s most important gift to Uganda has been peace and security, which has been assured largely by the people of Uganda—the wanainchi—and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
“Our army is very strong. Nobody can bring war here. If you bring war here, we will destroy you,” he stated firmly, drawing applause.
President Museveni also cautioned that peace must be distinguished from security. He acknowledged that crime, particularly theft, continues to frustrate citizens and undermine the government’s development programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM).
“People get money for PDM. They buy pigs, goats, chicken—they are stolen. And you find the policemen colluding with the thieves. The judiciary releases them. You leaders should not accept this in your areas,” President Museveni warned.
He urged leaders to enforce discipline and reject any culture of leniency towards crime.
“Any thief who steals properties of the villages must go to jail and stay there and pay for what he has stolen before he comes out. Be very strict—don’t play around.”
Beyond peace and security, President Museveni highlighted three pillars of Uganda’s transformation; development, infrastructure, and wealth creation.
He explained that development covers both economic and social infrastructure: roads, electricity, schools, hospitals, and ICT. Wealth creation, however, remains the key to consolidating the NRM’s legacy.
“You, the leaders, should really know that to strengthen the NRM more and durably, you must do what we in the student movement did in the 1960s when we started the campaign in the cattle corridor,” President recalled.
He narrated how the cattle corridor, once plagued by nomadism and poverty, was transformed through dairy farming campaigns into a prosperous region.
“Despite infrastructure challenges, regions like Ngoma and Matongo are now prosperous, with residents owning cars and having money,” H.E. Museveni said.
With 40 million acres of arable land, he stressed that Uganda has the capacity to create over 105 million jobs if even 7 million acres are properly utilized.
“There will be so many jobs that even refugees in the camps will get out and work,” he quipped.
On the matter of employment, President Museveni criticized the outflow of Ugandans to the Middle East in search of jobs. He insisted that Uganda has enough opportunities if productivity is maximized.
“People going to the Middle East to look for jobs—what are you going to look for? The Middle East should be coming here to work. You leave jobs here, you go to work in the Middle East,” he remarked, provoking laughter and nods among delegates.
The President also highlighted Uganda’s scientific innovations, especially in health. He said that Ugandan scientists have developed medicines for cancer, diabetes, malaria, and other global diseases.
“Our people have discovered medicines; we are going to save the world from so many problems,” he said, framing science and innovation as another frontier of Uganda’s transformation.
The NRM First National Vice Chairperson, Al-Haji Moses Kigongo, thanked President Museveni for accepting to run again for Presidency and assured him of victory in the 2026 elections.
“We are ready. The country is ready. And I can assure Your Excellency that we are going to win the election,” Alhaji Kigongo said.
He however cautioned party members against indiscipline and infighting.
“If we don’t pull up on discipline, things might be difficult for us. I appeal to you, honorable members, first of all, to love one another. Let us work together. This infighting must stop and stop now. Let us move together as one group,” he urged.
The Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson Rt. Hon. Anita Among praised President Museveni’s visionary leadership and consistency, saying the NRM’s evolution from the 10-Point Programme has been deliberate and transformative.
“It is now time for us to protect the gains we have registered in the transformation of our beloved country,” she emphasized.
The NRM Secretary General Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong explained that the 2026–2031 manifesto, themed “Protecting the Gains as We Make a Qualitative Leap into Higher Middle-Income Status”, builds systematically on past manifestos.
Reflecting on the party’s history, Rt. Hon. Todwong reminded members that NRM manifestos have evolved consistently since 1986, beginning with the famous 10-Point Programme that emphasized democracy, security, national unity, elimination of sectarianism, economic independence, and social services restoration.
From “Tackling the Tasks Ahead” in 1996, to “Prosperity for All” in 2006, “Peace, Unity and Transformation for Prosperity” in 2011, “Steady Progress” in 2016, and “Securing Your Future” in 2021, the NRM has maintained consistency, he argued.
“The size of the economy has doubled in spite of global shocks such as COVID-19 and disruption in external markets,” Rt. Hon. Todwong said, projecting that by the end of FY 2025/26, Uganda’s economy will expand to Shs. 254.2 trillion ($66.1 billion).
He dedicated significant time to highlighting achievements from the outgoing 2021–2026 manifesto, which carried the theme “Securing Your Future.”
He said: Poverty levels declined from 21.4% in 2016 to 16.1% in 2025, Jobs rose from 258,286 in 2020/21 to 345,039 by 2025, recovering from COVID-19 disruptions and the Ugandan Shilling remained the most stable currency in Africa in 2024/25.
He added that factories increased to 50,000, up from 37,559 in 2019/20, export earnings reached $13.3 billion in 2024/25, driven by coffee, gold, dairy, cocoa, and manufactured goods and electricity generation rose to 2,051 MW in 2024, powered by Karuma and Isimba hydropower plants.
About health, Rt. Hon. Todwong said life expectancy improved to 68 years from 45 in 1986; maternal and infant mortality drastically declined and UPE and USE boosted school enrollment to 9.1 million learners by 2025, while literacy rates rose to 74%.
“These are not just numbers—they are lives transformed,” he said.
Looking ahead, Rt. Hon. Todwong outlined the core themes of the new manifesto.
He also announced that PDM funding for Greater Kampala Metropolitan will rise to Shs. 300 million per parish, with special grants for persons with disabilities, village leaders, and religious leaders.
On education, Rt. Hon. Todwong pledged curriculum reforms to focus on job creators, recruitment of 49,406 new teachers, and progressive salary enhancement for civil servants, including arts teachers.
On governance, he reiterated zero tolerance to corruption, decentralization, land reforms, and stronger security guarantees.
Regionally, NRM committed to supporting East African political federation, a single currency, and the elimination of non-tariff barriers.
