President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged National Resistance Movement (NRM) Members of Parliament to reject corruption and champion wealth creation as he closed a week-long leadership retreat in Kyankwanzi.
The retreat, held at the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi, ran from April 7 to April 14 under the theme of aligning NRM leadership to protect national gains and accelerate Uganda’s transition to a higher middle-income economy.
Speaking during the final session, President Museveni issued a strong warning to legislators on integrity and accountability.
“I do not want to hear of corruption in Parliament. If there is corruption in Parliament, how will you control others? You are the oversight body,” he said.
He cautioned that corruption threatens national progress. “It will kill Uganda. It is suicide and must not be tolerated,” he added.
The President revealed concerns about bribery linked to budget processes. “I have heard that some people demand money before passing budgets. One official refused and reported the matter. This must stop,” he said. He warned that those who bribe for positions risk disqualification.
President Museveni also used the retreat to reinforce his long-standing call for economic transformation. He urged leaders to mobilise citizens to shift from subsistence production to participation in the money economy.
“By the time of independence, only about 9% of homesteads were in the money economy. The rest were producing just for the stomach,” he said.
Drawing from his upbringing, he noted that many families produced for consumption rather than trade. “We had cows and bananas, but they were only for consumption. There was no selling,” he said.
He highlighted progress in Uganda’s cattle corridor, which spans districts such as Isingiro, Kiruhura, Sembabule, Kyankwanzi, and Nakasongola. He said government efforts since 1986 have encouraged farmers to adopt income-generating activities.
“The cattle corridor has transformed because people changed their mindset and followed the message,” he said.
President Museveni urged farmers to improve pasture for higher productivity. “If you plant improved pasture on one square mile, you can keep up to 300 cows,” he said.
He also pledged continued investment in infrastructure to improve connectivity. “We shall continue working on the roads connecting Luwero, Ngoma, and Kyankwanzi to improve accessibility,” he said.
Earlier, the President hosted MPs at Ngoma State Lodge and led them on a farm tour, including a visit to the area between River Mayanja and River Kafu, which he described as significant in Uganda’s liberation struggle.
“This place is very important for two reasons,” he said, recalling the 1984 National Resistance Army operation on Masindi Barracks led by Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh).
The Secretary General of the NRM, Richard Todwong, presented resolutions adopted by MPs and party-leaning Independents. He said the legislators committed to discipline, accountability, and ethical leadership.
“We commit to institutionalizing a culture of discipline, accountability, and results-oriented leadership aligned to the NRM manifesto,” he said.
He added that MPs resolved to support stronger anti-corruption measures. “We reaffirm a zero-tolerance on corruption, inefficiency, and abuse of office,” he said.
On economic policy, Todwong said MPs pledged to back strategies that expand access to credit, markets, and infrastructure. “We shall promote value addition, export orientation, and import substitution as key drivers of Uganda’s transition to a higher middle-income economy,” he said.
The Member of Parliament for Nakaseke North, Wilber Manyisa Ahebwa, praised President Museveni’s leadership and pledged continued support.
“I thank you, Your Excellency, for the sacrifices you have made for this country,” he said.
The Kyankwanzi retreat remains a key platform for shaping NRM leadership, with a focus on ideology, discipline, and socio-economic transformation.