KYANKWANZI — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has challenged newly appointed Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State to dedicate themselves to Uganda’s long-standing mission of socio-economic transformation, emphasising the need for ideological clarity, discipline, and results-oriented leadership.
The President made the remarks on Monday while officially opening a 10-day Cabinet Induction Retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI), Kyankwanzi, attended by ministers and senior government officials under the theme, “Leading Government with Integrity, Discipline and Results: Delivering Uganda to Upper Middle-Income Status.”
Describing Kyankwanzi as a symbol of sacrifice and commitment, President Museveni reminded leaders that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) was founded on selflessness and service to the people.
“This is a place of sacrifice. The NRM is a party of sacrifice. People who let us down are people looking for their own things,” he said.
The President warned against ideological drift among public officials, arguing that leadership should be guided by political education and a clear understanding of national priorities rather than personal ambition.
Quoting from the Church of Uganda prayer book, he noted that some leaders often “leave undone what they ought to have done,” adding that the retreat was intended to address such shortcomings.
“I have noticed a decline in political awareness among leaders. To help yourself, you must understand how to help your people,” President Museveni said.
He distinguished political education and political mobilisation, stressing that effective leadership requires knowledge and understanding.
“Political education is knowledge and understanding, whereas propaganda is merely about exciting people,” he said.
The President further cautioned that since 1986, various groups had sought to infiltrate government institutions for personal gain, including businessmen seeking favours, careerists, criminals, and individuals using public office to enrich themselves and their families.
He said such tendencies undermine national transformation and called on ministers to uphold integrity, patriotism, and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
During his address, President Museveni reflected on the historical evolution of societies, citing the work of German philosopher and economist Karl Marx.
“By 1848, Karl Marx had identified several social systems. I do not agree with some of his conclusions, but he was one of the best analysts,” he noted.
The President explained that Uganda’s central challenge remains the transition from a largely pre-capitalist economy to a modern economy driven by production, industrialisation, value addition, and wealth creation.
He criticised the colonial economic structure introduced under British rule, arguing that it confined Uganda to the production and export of raw materials.
“They were not interested in creating a modern society. By 1962, only nine percent of Uganda’s population was in the money economy,” he said.
According to President Museveni, Uganda’s economy at Independence revolved around what he described as the “3Cs and 3Ts” — Coffee, Cotton and Copper, alongside Tobacco, Tea and Tourism — with most exports leaving the country in raw or semi-processed form.
He emphasised that local processing, packaging and branding remain critical to increasing incomes and creating jobs.
“The purpose of leadership is to transform society. We must move our people from subsistence production into the money economy and build a modern society,” he said.
The President reiterated that the NRM’s mission has always centred on socio-economic transformation through participation in the money economy and education.
He identified commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as the four strategic sectors that should drive Uganda’s economic growth and challenged ministers to actively mobilise communities toward wealth creation.
Drawing from his experiences in the cattle corridor, President Museveni said Uganda had made significant progress in moving communities from traditional subsistence practices toward commercial production, although challenges such as land fragmentation, low productivity, poor pasture management and inadequate irrigation persist.
He urged leaders to promote modern farming methods and collective investment approaches rather than the subdivision of land.
“We cannot continue to have peasants in Uganda. Every family must move from subsistence living into the middle class or the skilled working class,” he emphasised.
The President said the historical responsibility of African leaders, both during and after the struggle for independence, has always been to transform society economically.
“We must build a middle class in Africa. We must build a skilled working class in Africa,” he said.
He added: “In this Kisanja, I do not want any excuses. The challenge is socio-economic transformation. Peasants must disappear from Uganda; they must become either middle class or skilled middle class.”
President Museveni also called for stronger coordination among ministries and government agencies to support farmers through irrigation, mechanisation, disease control, improved enterprise selection and market access.
Vice President Jessica Alupo said President Museveni’s overwhelming electoral victory reflected continued public confidence in his leadership and vision.
She described the Kyankwanzi retreat as an important platform for ministers to gain knowledge and prepare for the responsibilities ahead.
Alupo urged ministers to contribute toward the realisation of Uganda’s ambitious development goals, including the aspiration to grow the economy to USD 500 billion, while reaffirming the Cabinet’s commitment to fighting corruption.
“We shall confront corruption and deliver diligently,” she pledged.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja thanked President Museveni for entrusting the new team with leadership responsibilities and promised full commitment to implementing government programmes.
“Your Excellency, the theme of this retreat directly aligns with your call: no more sleep, no more corruption,” she said.
Nabbanja noted that achieving upper middle-income status would require accelerated agro-industrialisation, greater participation in the money economy, and continued investment in critical infrastructure such as roads, railways, schools and health facilities.
She also pledged enhanced monitoring of government projects to ensure value for money and effective service delivery.
Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye reminded ministers that their appointments reflected the confidence President Museveni had placed in them and urged them to focus on results.
“The President has sounded a wake-up call. You must all go to the field and work there. No more time for relaxing and rolling away your chairs,” she cautioned.
Nakyobe also challenged leaders to set an example in the fight against corruption, describing graft as one of the greatest obstacles to Uganda’s aspiration of attaining upper middle-income status.
The 10-day induction retreat is expected to equip ministers with a deeper understanding of government systems, policy priorities and implementation strategies as the administration embarks on its 2026–2031 development agenda.