Museveni: Mafabi, Bobi Wine, Munyagwa Pushed for Higher Salaries in Parliament Instead of Roads

Museveni arrives to meet NRM leaders at Mbale Secondary School grounds on Sunday

President Museveni has urged the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders in Bugisu sub-region to remain steadfast, reject what he described as lies and distortions from opposition politicians, and instead champion government priorities of wealth creation, industrialization, and value addition.

Speaking to 17,725 NRM leaders gathered at Mbale Secondary School grounds on Sunday, November 16, 2025, President Museveni, who is also the NRM national chairman, accused the opposition of spreading misinformation, misunderstanding national planning frameworks, and prioritizing issues such as salaries and allowances at the expense of strategic investments that stimulate long-term economic transformation.

“NRM has no problem. Our analysis is correct, and our strategy is correct. That’s why we were able to defeat all these groups, even in the war, even when we started with 27 people,” President Museveni said.

He emphasized that while the NRM attempts to work harmoniously with all Ugandans, the opposition continues to mislead the population and push agendas that do not align with national development priorities.

President Museveni also listed power generation, industrial parks, and strategic road projects as critical investments that unlock employment, stimulate industrial growth, and expand the tax base.

He cited the recurrent debate around the Mbale– Namagumba– Bududa–Nalugugu road, noting that while such projects are important, Uganda’s development plan must account for broader national interests.

“Sometimes the priorities are not correct. The other day in Bududa and Namisindwa, we were talking about the circular road. We would have done these roads long ago, but the priorities of our partners are not always the same,” he explained.

President Museveni had no kind words for other presidential candidates in the 2026 presidential race, some of whom were in parliament but prioritized salaries and allowances over national development and wealth creation.

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“But what I don’t like are people who make mistakes but later go and tell lies. Like when my son Nandala Mafabi goes to Namisindwa and says the road is bad. Yes, but you are the one who delayed it because you were the one who was in parliament, prioritizing salaries and allowances for yourself,” he said.

“Maybe if it is Robert Kasibante, and those who have never been to parliament, I can forgive. But the ones who were in parliament, like Nadala Mafabi, Mugisha Muntu, Robert Kyagulanyi, Mubarak Munyagwa, they have no right to speak about anything, because they had a chance in parliament to think but never did,” President Museveni stated, further reminding the NRM leaders to be careful when listening to opposition politicians, saying “they are working to malign and suppress government achievements.”

He insisted that opposition politicians should not attack the government over incomplete road works when they themselves allegedly frustrated earlier attempts to fund such projects.

Uganda’s Growth: “One of the fastest in the world”

President Museveni praised Uganda’s economic progress, citing a growth rate of 7%, with projections of surpassing 10% once oil production comes on board.

He pointed to industrial output, hotel investments, and the expansion of the manufacturing sector as tangible evidence of Uganda’s transformation.

President Museveni reinforced his point by highlighting Uganda’s rapidly expanding industrial landscape, pointing to major industrial parks and their growing employment capacity.

He cited the Sino-Mbale Industrial Park, which now hosts 75 factories employing 12,000 people, as a prime example of the region’s rising manufacturing potential.