Museveni Asks NRM Delegates to Fight Poverty, Corruption, Build Money Economy

President Museveni has opened the first meeting of the 4th National Conference of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, rallying delegates to focus on discipline, fight poverty and corruption, and ensure every Ugandan household joins the money economy.

Accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataha Museveni, the president, who also doubles as NRM National Chairman, addressed thousands of delegates gathered to elect special interest group representatives and chart the Movement’s future direction. Delegates will elect leaders representing the youth, elderly, workers, and persons with disabilities, among others.

In his address, Museveni welcomed the youthful composition of many newly elected delegates, describing it as a healthy sign of generational renewal.

He urged them to uphold the NRM’s principles of patriotism, Pan-Africanism, democracy, and socio-economic transformation while taking the party’s vision deeper into households across Uganda.

The President traced Uganda’s economic journey from what he termed “minimum recovery” to today’s “take-off stage.”

He recalled years when Ugandans lacked basic commodities such as sugar, salt, and soap, contrasting them with the present, where Uganda is manufacturing vehicles through Kiira Motors, producing vaccines, and building an ICT-driven economy.

“We are no longer in recovery; Uganda is in the take-off stage. We are now manufacturing our own cars, producing vaccines, and building an ICT-driven economy,” he said.

On household wealth, Museveni said Uganda’s long-term stability depends on every family joining the money economy.

He noted that in 2013, 68 percent of Ugandans were outside the money economy, compared to 33 percent today, and emphasized the target of ensuring no family is left behind.

He cited Joseph Ijaara, a farmer in Serere, as an example of how commercial agriculture on small landholdings can yield high returns. He identified four pillars of the money economy — agriculture, industry, services, and ICT — and urged delegates to mobilize their communities to embrace at least one.

“In the past, towns were only filled with shops, but today we are building towns of factories where people work and earn. That is the NRM difference,” he said.

Museveni tasked delegates to tackle issues that directly affect ordinary Ugandans.

“What I want you to take from here is simple: fight poverty in your families, fight corruption — don’t allow people to eat Parish Development Model money. Insist that the police fight crime, and where they fail, report them,” he said.

On health, the President noted progress in malaria control and immunization but decried persistent drug thefts undermining treatment. He reaffirmed government plans to expand safe water access across villages.

On infrastructure, he revealed that each district receives shs1.3 billion annually for murram road maintenance and demanded proper use of the funds.

On education, Museveni committed to free education in all government schools, arguing that fees must be abolished to give every child access to quality learning.

“Once the NRM is voted again, we shall insist on free education in all government schools. Support me so we can fully implement it,” he said.

NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong reminded delegates that the Movement is bigger than any individual and that leadership must be seen as service, not self-enrichment.

He urged members to embody discipline, sacrifice, and responsibility, noting that elections may come and go, but the Movement and the people remain.

NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Dr. Tanga Odoi pledged free and fair elections for special interest groups and the subsequent polls in the coming days.