President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has taken Members of Parliament through a hands-on shooting exercise at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, using the session to reinforce the importance of national defence, discipline, and the fight against corruption.
The firearms training marked the final activity of the week-long NRM parliamentary retreat, which ran from April 7 to 14, 2026, under the theme: “Aligning the NRM leadership towards protecting the gains and making a bold, qualitative leap towards a higher middle-income status society.”
Personally guiding legislators on basic gun handling, the President observed their performance and commended their participation. “I congratulate the participants. I can see some of them are veterans,” President Museveni said.
He used the exercise to explain Uganda’s defence philosophy, anchored on a “people’s army” concept, where civilians are trained and remain available as a reserve force.
“Ours is a people’s army. We encourage citizens to learn the science of arms so that in case of any threat, we can mobilise numbers for national defence,” he said.
President Museveni added that such a model allows even countries with smaller populations to build strong defence systems through continuous training.
“This is how you maximise defence. People train, go back to their normal lives, but remain ready. That is what they do in countries like Israel, where citizens are called back for refresher training,” he noted.
Drawing from Uganda’s past, he highlighted how trained local defence units have previously been mobilised to respond to security threats, underscoring the need for preparedness.
However, the President shifted focus to governance, warning that corruption remains the greatest threat to Uganda’s progress. “The first thing you must do is to fight corruption. If you don’t, all these efforts will be for nothing,” he stressed.
He cautioned legislators against bribery and vote-buying, saying the practice undermines leadership and national development. “Do not bribe voters. You cannot give someone a small amount of money to decide leadership for five years. That is wrong,” he emphasised.
President Museveni also urged MPs to maintain financial discipline and rely on structured support systems rather than unsustainable borrowing. “A bankrupt leader should not be a leader. Stand on your own and work with the systems we have put in place,” he advised.
He noted that the government has historically prioritised collective welfare programmes for security forces, including education, housing, and SACCO initiatives such as Wazalendo, to improve livelihoods without resorting to corruption.
“We did not have much money for high salaries, but we focused on supporting soldiers through education, housing, and healthcare,” he said.
As the retreat concluded, the President called on legislators to return to their constituencies with renewed commitment to service, integrity, and wealth creation. “I wish you good luck as you go back to serve your constituencies,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Director of NALI, Col Okei Rukogota, commended the President for inaugurating the institute’s shooting range, noting it will enhance civilian training in basic defence skills.
“This is testimony that you have never been a dictator, because dictators cannot empower citizens with the means of defence,” Col Rukogota said.
He added that equipping wananchi with practical skills strengthens both national security and Uganda’s broader transformation agenda.