President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has re-emphasized the seven pillars of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) manifesto, which include peace, development, wealth creation, job generation, service delivery, markets, and regional political federation as the foundation for Uganda’s continued progress and unity.

Addressing journalists in the Sebei sub-region districts of Kapchorwa, Kween, and Bukwo at Mbale State Lodge on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, President Museveni said the NRM’s manifesto represents four decades of tangible contributions that have transformed Uganda from instability to a country of peace, development, and economic recovery.

“This group, which is now called NRM, crystallized around 1965 from the old political parties - DP, UPC, and Kabaka Yekka - because of ideology. Those groups were emphasizing identity, religion, and tribe, and they didn’t want to talk about women. Women didn’t matter. But we said, no, that is not the way forward,” President Museveni said, while tracing the ideological roots of the NRM.

The meeting, attended by key party leaders including the Speaker of Parliament, also NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, NRM Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, NRM Vice Chairperson for Eastern Region, Hon. Calvin Ecodu, Minister of State for Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang, NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, and NRM Director of Information and Publicity, Hon. Emmanuel Lumala Dombo, marked the latest engagement in a series of regional media briefings aimed at clarifying the party’s development priorities ahead of the 2026 general elections.

The President explained that the current NRM manifesto does not revisit those historical divisions, but instead focuses on the practical achievements since 1986, number one being peace, which he attributed to the NRM’s ideological clarity that prioritizes action and productivity.

“We don’t look at who you are, but at what you do. That’s what guides us. Because of that, we’ve been able to build a national political party and institutions like the army, which have kept Uganda peaceful,” he said.

“Peace was achieved because we built institutions based on logic, not emotion. In Karamoja alone, we removed 41,000 illegal guns. That’s why peace remains our number one contribution,” he added.

The second pillar of the NRM manifesto, President Museveni said, is development, particularly in the area of infrastructure and social services. He noted that the NRM government has invested heavily in expanding road networks, constructing schools, hospitals, and other social infrastructure, which have collectively improved Uganda’s economic base and connectivity.

“Development is the second key contribution. We have worked on roads, schools, hospitals, and all infrastructure that supports both economic and social progress,” President Museveni said.

Highlighting the third point in the NRM manifesto, the President emphasized the centrality of wealth creation as the most dynamic component of Uganda’s economic transformation.

He explained that the NRM government’s economic philosophy promotes household-level prosperity, urging every family to engage in productive enterprises that generate income.

“We don’t believe in a culture of poverty. Every home must have wealth. Before colonialism, there was no unemployment. People had families of blacksmiths, carpenters, and artisans; everyone was productive. Unemployment is a colonial phenomenon,” H.E. Museveni said, citing the Emyooga initiative as a revival of Uganda’s traditional specialization system, enabling skilled individuals such as carpenters, welders, tailors, and farmers to create wealth and contribute to national income.

The President underscored that wealth creation is the cornerstone of a self-sustaining economy, explaining that taxes and government revenues originate from citizens’ consumption and productivity.

“If I have cows and sell them, I provide beef and milk for the country, but I also earn money and build a good house. That house contributes taxes through the cement used. So, wealth benefits the individual and the nation,” he noted.

President Museveni commended the people of Sebei for their hardworking nature but urged them to engage in fast-return enterprises to increase cash flow and investment capacity.

“Our people cultivate maize, which takes eight to nine months to mature. We encourage them to go for enterprises that bring quick returns. We have moved from 32% to 67% of Ugandans in the money economy, but we must bring the remaining 33% on board,” he added.

Regarding job creation as the fourth point of the NRM manifesto, President Museveni cautioned that job opportunities cannot be created in isolation from wealth and production. He criticized the misconception that jobs are a government-provided resource, saying the public sector alone cannot absorb Uganda’s growing labor force.

“Government jobs are only 480,000 against a population of 50 million, which will be 100 million in 30 years. So where will jobs come from? Jobs in modern society come from commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT,” he explained.

The President reiterated that the NRM’s approach links job creation directly to wealth generation, industrialization, and innovation, emphasizing that entrepreneurship and private investment are the primary engines for sustainable employment.

The fifth point in the manifesto, President Museveni said, is strengthening service delivery across key sectors such as education, health, and governance.

He acknowledged ongoing challenges in healthcare and education but maintained that the government has built the necessary foundation to sustain progress in these sectors.

“Service delivery involves all the essential areas: education, health, security, governance, and entertainment. We are addressing these continuously,” he said.

On the sixth pillar, the President addressed the issue of markets, stressing that Uganda’s production levels have now outgrown domestic consumption capacity.

“Everything we are producing - sugar, cement, milk, bananas - is in surplus. The internal market is not enough. We need a regional market,” he said.

He criticized sections of the political class for focusing on elections and power instead of discussing strategic economic issues such as market access and trade integration.

“Our politicians talk about power, not markets. But what are you going to do with power if you don’t have a market for your people’s products?” he asked.

He explained that economic integration within the East African Community (EAC) is essential to address the surplus production and ensure sustainable industrial growth.

The seventh and final pillar in the NRM manifesto, President Museveni said, is the pursuit of political federation in East Africa, aimed at creating a unified bloc capable of addressing regional economic and security challenges.

“If there were a Federation in East Africa, we would have a center of gravity for Africans and the black race. The Americans, Russians, and Chinese are exploring space while Africa still remains divided. A political Federation would strengthen our strategic security,” he emphasized.

Addressing Landslides in Sebei:

Turning to local issues, President Museveni addressed the recurrent problem of landslides in the Sebei region, saying they result from human activity in fragile mountainous areas.

“In the past, we never used to hear about landslides. People are cultivating steep slopes where forests once stood. These forests used to hold the soil. When you cut trees and cultivate carelessly, you endanger your lives,” he warned.

The President revealed that the government has already begun a resettlement program for families living in high-risk areas and plans to convene a post-election conference to discuss sustainable environmental practices in Sebei.

“We are resettling the affected people, but in the long run, I have proposed that we should really have a conference after the elections, and we can talk about it; we can even hear from the elders about what used to be done in the past. How were things being done? We need a serious discussion on how to manage these areas,” he said.

Responding to concerns about corruption and embezzlement of government funds in Sebei, President Museveni said the NRM government developed an anti-corruption plan that empowers citizens to monitor local leaders and government programs.

He recounted his early opposition to corruption during the colonial era, saying it motivated him to advocate for community-level oversight systems.

“When we were in the bush, I said the only way to fight corruption is to empower people to elect monitors of government services. That’s why you must elect leaders who are on your side,” he said.

President Museveni emphasized that community members are the most effective watchdogs against corruption because they are the direct victims of financial mismanagement.

“The owner of the money is the most angry. You are the victims when PDM or road funds are stolen. That’s why you, the electorate, are our most reliable allies,” he told the journalists.

Rt. Hon. Among praised President Museveni for presenting what she called a credible and practical manifesto that reflects the NRM’s long-standing record of delivery.

“We thank you, Your Excellency, for presenting a clear, credible, and achievable manifesto. You have talked about peace and development, and we believe under your leadership, peace will continue to prevail,” she said.

She also highlighted infrastructure development in Sebei, noting that the region now enjoys some of the best road networks in Uganda, which have boosted connectivity and tourism potential.

“Sebei has some of the best roads in the country. We are impressed by what we have seen - the scenery and the roads are amazing,” she added.

Rt. Hon. Among further applauded the NRM’s focus on job creation and youth empowerment, saying the manifesto provides a clear path for inclusive economic growth.