President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially received the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag to lead the party into the 2026 general elections, pledging to focus his next term on integrating all Ugandans into the money economy.
The flag was handed over by NRM First National Vice Chairperson Alhaji Moses Kigongo during Museveni’s maiden campaign rally at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, shortly after his nomination by the Electoral Commission. Flanked by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, the President launched his campaign before thousands of supporters.
Kigongo urged party loyalists to reject independents who lost in primaries, saying unity was key to ensuring Uganda’s progress. “Support the best choice for Uganda’s continuity,” he told the crowd.
In his address, President Museveni, the NRM flagbearer for 2026–2031, said his administration will focus on lifting the remaining 32 percent of Ugandans outside the money economy through household empowerment programs. “In the last 12 years, we reduced peasantry from 68 percent to 32 percent. The next step is to bring everyone into the money economy,” he said.
Museveni announced new funding schemes to expand opportunities, including a fund for jobless graduates, cultural and religious leaders, parish-level SACCOs, and targeted support for fishermen. He reaffirmed that ongoing initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) will receive more resources to accelerate transformation.
The President also warned against leaders he described as inexperienced. “Be careful of liars who want to destroy all the scores Uganda has made,” he cautioned, urging disgruntled NRM members to resolve disputes within party structures rather than contesting as independents.
Prime Minister emeritus Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, who nominated Museveni to the Electoral Commission, praised him as “a transformative leader with Uganda and Africa at heart,” adding that he had guided the country from instability to peace and unity.
NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong said Museveni’s candidature was “demand-driven” by the party’s support base across the country.