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06 September 2025
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI MEETS NRM BUGANDA PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni last evening met and discussed a wide range of developmental issues with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Buganda Parliamentary Caucus at State House, Entebbe. During the meeting, President Museveni guided the caucus on a number of issues on service delivery and development in Buganda and across the country. “You, the new leaders, need to defend the legitimate interests of the people of Uganda and Buganda because Buganda is the major beneficiary of the NRM revolution and anybody who does not see that is an enemy of Buganda,” he said. The President noted that because of peace brought by the NRM government, a lot of development including good roads, industries, among others have been achieved in Buganda and Uganda in general. President Museveni also thanked NRM MPs from Buganda region for the good work of sensitizing the masses and monitoring government programs. President Museveni therefore tasked the leaders to now put their main focus on the homestead income of Ugandans. “Strategically Buganda is the direct beneficiary of NRM so if all the people get involved in creating wealth, Uganda will be the most developed country in the world.” He further noted that land fragmentation remains one of the biggest challenges facing the region and the country at large. Hon. Migadde Robert Ndugwa, the chairperson of the NRM Buganda Parliamentary group and the MP for Buvuma County presented the group’s Memorandum of Understanding and thanked the President for his exceptional leadership steering Uganda’s development forward. He noted that the group has been moving in the region at constituency level to respond to community concerns and monitor government programs. The deputy Secretary General of the NRM party, Hon. Rose Namayanja thanked President Museveni for his guidance on the different areas of development and service delivery. She thanked the group for the unity and commitment, further asking them to work harder for the people and deliver success for the NRM party in the region.

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06 September 2025
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI PASSES-OUT 1,372 PATRIOTIC SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today passed out 1,372 secondary school teachers from Greater Mbarara and Ntungamo regions who have been undergoing a patriotism course at Ntare School, Mbarara City. The training which started on 26th August, 2025, ran under the theme: “Transforming Teachers lives through Patriotism”. During the pass-out ceremony, President Museveni congratulated the participants for successfully finishing their course. “I want to thank Hellen Seku and the instructors for training you very well in such a short time,” he said. According to President Museveni, the effort of patriotism which he launched in 2009 is very crucial for the country to know what to do. “It is very dangerous to have citizens, especially educated people who don't know what is required to live a good life. This is why I keep saying management of a society is like medicine where the doctor must make a diagnosis of a patient and therefore prescribe a medicine. Similarly, leaders whatever they are must have a correct diagnosis of a society. If they don't, that society will fail.” President Museveni noted that when the National Resistance Movement (NRM) came into power, they took the trouble to know the problems affecting Uganda and how to solve them. They did this by identifying the three historical missions and coming up with the four core principles of the NRM. “The moment you become a wealth creator; you will need the four principles of the NRM. The prosperity of Ankole, Buganda, Acholi and other regions depends a lot on Uganda. That's why we were able to say that you people love Uganda, why? Because you need it for your own prosperity hence patriotism,” he urged. “Patriotism is not emotional; you love because you need it for your own good. If you say you care about Ankole, but you don't care about Uganda, you are not serious because Uganda is the one which helps the Banyankore and other tribes to be prosperous.” President Museveni also underscored the role of Pan-Africanism in promoting external markets. “Once you start producing you will find that the internal market of Uganda is not enough. That's why the NRM says that you people love Uganda but also love East Africa and Africa. That's the second principle, Pan-Africanism. The third principle is socio-economic transformation and then democracy.” At the same event, President Museveni explained why the government took a decision to first pay scientists better at the expense of their counterparts. “We need roads, factories, veterinary doctors, crop scientists, so since we need these very badly, why don't we start by paying scientists a bit better so that they help us to go to another level but when we did that maybe we didn't explain very well some people said all us must get. Now if we try to give all you at a go the little, we have, we shall not be able to go anywhere. What we need now is how to maintain that road, not poetry. It's not that we don't want to pay others well, but we have what we call urgency. That's the logic,” he stated. “I'm glad that now you seem to understand, and we are moving systematically. Arts teachers will also be paid well. Artisan teachers should also be paid like scientists. I will sort that out because artisans are scientists.” Regarding the issue of paying bribes to get the teachers onto the payroll, the President assured them that he will handle the matter. Additionally, President Museveni tasked the teachers to create wealth through the four sectors of the economy which include, commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT. On her part, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni congratulated the participants for successfully completing a life-impacting training. “I believe it will transform our schools and above all restart the lives of the participants, the teachers themselves,” she said. “I must thank Ms. Hellen Seku and the entire National Patriotism Secretariat for the job well done by keeping the fire of patriotism burning in the hearts of our young people and now reaching out to touch the teaching service itself.” The First Lady further informed the President that teachers are a critical asset in the country because they impart the value of patriotism in the minds and hearts of the young people. “The time a teacher spends in the life of a child or young person is valuable in moulding what it means to love one's country. This love for one's country is demonstrated when citizens put the interest of their country before the pursuit of personal interests,” Maama Janet noted. “The spirit of patriotism challenges the citizen to look at themselves as a central contributor to their nation's well-being for the common interest of all as opposed to focusing on the pursuit of personal interests and gains. Therefore, the prosperity of a nation cannot be divorced from the patriotism of its people.” Maama Janet also explained that when service, hard work and unity are passed in the interest of the common good of the people in the nation, such a society is unstoppable in whatever they set themselves to do. “There are several examples of nations that have transformed themselves into socio-economic giants by simply pursuing ambitious goals for the nation in the best interest for the common good.” On the other hand, the First Lady advocated for sacrificial service among the teachers, explaining that, that's how a critical mass of people transform their society. “It is important that we appreciate that the nations that are doing well, were not always doing well. The welfare of the public service workforce was not always that good when they were still in a state of limited resources. However, they did not destroy the little they had, they preserved it and built on it to get to where they are today.” The Commissioner, National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps (NSPC)-State House, Ms. Hellen Seku informed the President that the Secretariat organised the training for secondary school teachers following requests from a number of teachers who felt that they needed to undergo the training to become change agents to the students and communities around them. “The objectives of the training were; to empower teachers in promoting patriotism through role modelling, discipline and a commitment to national cause, ultimately developing a generation of responsible and loyal citizens,” she said. “And to also develop their abilities to foster harmony and a spirit of hard work for national building and hence wealth creation as well as inculcating values and norms of patriotism among teachers.” Commissioner Seku further lauded President Museveni and Maama Janet for their strategic guidance and leadership in the initiative. The Head teacher of Ntare school and one of the coordinators of the program, Mr. Saul Rwampororo said the teachers were drawn from seven districts and one city including Mbarara City, Mbarara district, Ntungamo, Rwampara, Isingiro, Ibanda, Kiruhura and Kazo. “The participants’ wellbeing during the training was fully sponsored by the National Patriotism Secretariat - State House,” he said. “These participants have had first hand patriotism lectures from high level professionals and have also been trained in standard parade drills by skilled military personnel. I'm sure the quality of patriotism they have acquired is standard.” On behalf of the trainees, Mr. Perez Assimwe, the Chairman Memorandum Committee for Trainees, appreciated the facilitators and instructors that took them through the training session, explaining that the content was broad enough and sustainable for the course theme. “The 1,372 patriotic teachers were so cooperative and responsive to every activity that took place in this training camp,” he said. “Your Excellency, during this training, all the trainees were able to gain knowledge on the need for the East African Integration and Pan-Africanism, patriotism and its core values, political economy, the social systems and man’s role in transformation, financial literacy, Principles of the NRM, among others.” Mr. Asiimwe also thanked President Museveni for giving them an opportunity to be the first group of employees in the region to receive the patriotism training. “Our dear President, we are indebted to you for enhancing science teachers’ salaries and the fruitful engagement you had with teachers of arts in regard to their salary enhancement come 2026- 2027 Financial Year. This is a real indicator that you really care for the bazzukulu.”

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05 September 2025
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI PLEDGES TO UPLIFT VETERANS FROM POVERTY

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has vowed to intensify efforts to improve the welfare of veterans who fought in Uganda’s liberation struggles, saying that it is unacceptable for those who risked their lives for the country’s freedom to languish in poverty. “It’s not good to have the veterans in poverty. It’s not good at all,” President Museveni told a gathering of veterans drawn from Luwero, Wakiso, Nakasongola, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, and Nakaseke districts. He made the remarks on Wednesday, 3rd September, 2025, while delivering a lecture of opportunity and officially closing the Transformational Leadership Course Intake 07/2025 for veteran cadres at State House, Entebbe, blending reflections on Uganda’s historical liberation journey, the ideological foundation of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), and practical measures to empower ex-servicemen economically. The President emphasized that the sacrifices of the veterans, many of whom took part in the 1981–1986 liberation war, should not be betrayed by a life of deprivation. “The ones who are leaving now are going with better packages, but for those who sacrificed earlier, we must make up for the shortfalls. We shall do this through revolving funds, organized at the zone level,” he added, while encouraging veterans to organize themselves in structured associations and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) through which the government can channel financial support. “We are giving money to the Kampala ghetto boys. Why can’t we give money to the SACCOs of veterans?” H.E. Museveni noted. President Museveni insisted that veterans must be integrated into the four key sectors of the modern economy—commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT – to ensure sustainable income and prosperity. He stressed that veterans without land should not be left behind. Instead, they could embrace trade, artisanship, or small-scale manufacturing. “If you don’t have land, then your option is to have omwoga—an economic activity that is not based on land. You can do maize milling, tailoring, carpentry, or other trades that generate income,” he said. Reflecting on the early stages of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) launched in 2013, President Museveni revealed that veterans were always intended to be the first beneficiaries. “I told General Saleh to first give seedlings to all the veteran families and those who supported us during the war. Only after that should others benefit. But I later heard some veterans missed out because they lacked land,” the President noted. President Museveni used the same platform to revisit the three historical missions of the NRM, which are anchored in four ideological principles: patriotism, pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy that shaped Uganda’s liberation struggle, beginning with prosperity for all. He explained that genuine prosperity comes from every individual or family producing goods and services for sale, not from dependency or handouts. To illustrate these principles, the President recounted how his father, Mzee Kaguta, sold cattle in cultural auction markets in Ntungamo to raise his school fees, with support from traders like Walusimbi Mpanga and Bukenya who were not of their tribe. This experience, he said, showed that prosperity relies not only on local communities but also on broader national and regional markets. “I like the story of how I went to school. I was able to go to the school system in the 1950s and 1960s when the school system was for paying. How did I manage? How did Mr. Kaguta manage to pay my school fees? Kaguta had traditional cows, but he had no money. The only way he could get money was from the traders. A trader was coming from Kampala, here called Walusimbi Mpanga. He would come all the way to all those areas in Ntungamo and buy our cows. So that's how Kaguta now converts his cows into money, and he's able to pay my school fees and do a few other things,” he said, adding that the prosperity of the Banyankore and any other tribe depends more on Uganda. Why East African integration matters: The President delved into Uganda’s surplus production challenges, underscoring the role of regional markets. He said Uganda produces 5.3 billion liters of milk annually but consumes only 800 million. The same applies to other products like maize, where 5 million tons are produced against local consumption of 1 million, and sugar, where Uganda produces 700,000 tons against the domestic demand of 300,000 tons. President Museveni explained that without regional and continental markets, Uganda’s industries would collapse under the weight of excess production. “Fortunately, there is a regional market that buys our extra milk, beef, and maize. So that's why we say we need East Africa, we need Africa for our own prosperity. And that's why we say the second principle is pan-Africanism; Love Africa. Why? Because you need it for your own good,” he said. On behalf of the veterans, Captain (Rtd) Leonard Settimba delivered a memorandum outlining concerns and requests, which included a revolving fund, requesting the government to channel affordable loans through Wazalendo SACCO or other institutions to support their income-generating ventures. They also proposed an annual national day to celebrate and reunite Kadogos and bush war fighters, which would also serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made for Uganda’s freedom. The veterans expressed fears of land evictions but were assured by the President that no one would be removed from their land provided they pay busuulu (ground rent). Brigadier General Justus Rukundo, Commandant of the Oliver Reginald Tambo Leadership School and Pan-African Centre of Excellence (ORTLS-PACEX), Kaweweta, thanked the President for supporting the training of veteran cadres. He revealed that the school has trained 15 intakes of officers of different ranks and continues to rejuvenate ideological clarity and leadership skills among veterans. The school is currently constructing a 20-room guest house named “ANC” in honor of South Africa’s African National Congress and Oliver Tambo. Plans for a learning auditorium and a senior officers’ dormitory await funding. The ceremony drew high-level attendance, including Hon. Alice Kaboyo, Minister of State for the Luwero Triangle and Rwenzori Region; Maj. Gen. David Mugisha, Commander of the Special Forces Command; Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Phinehas Kitirima, NRM District Chairperson for Sembabule; Maj. Gen. James Kiwanuka, UPDF Joint Staff for Human Resource Management; Maj. Gen. Steven Mugerwa, UPDF 1st Division Commander, and Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, Director of Defence Public Information.

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05 September 2025
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI MEETS NRM MOBILIZERS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today flagged off National Resistance Movement (NRM) mobilizers from all over the country to sensitize the masses on different government programs aimed at lifting the lives of the wanainchi. “It seems you are clear about the vision and strategy of NRM because that’s always the problem people, don’t know how to get out of poverty” the President said during a meeting at State House, Entebbe. The mobilizers were led by Hajat Amina Mukalazi. President Museveni who is also the National chairman of the NRM party saluted the team for their dedication and hard work. “While we have been telling people that there are four sectors of the economy that help us to get out of poverty which include commercial agriculture, manufacturing and artisanship, services and ICT, you are right to talk about mobilization regarding how the society can get out of poverty,” he added. President Museveni also asked the mobilizers to actively engage the masses in the fight against corruption and misuse of government funds meant to improve the lives of the population. He pledged to support their SACCO initiative to uplift their livelihoods. The group also presented to the President their Memorandum of Understanding, thanking the party national chairman for the good leadership that is steering Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.

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04 September 2025
MBARARA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PROJECT GETS PRESIDENTIAL BOOST

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today met and held discussions with China-based consortium proposing to build and develop an international airport in Nyakisharara, Mbarara district. The meeting took place at State House, Entebbe. The project, presented to the President by Base 7 Aviation International Academy and their consultants, Hamster Business Solutions, aims to transform the region's economic landscape. According to officials from Base 7 Aviation International Academy, Mr. Mugabi Charles and Ms. Alexandria Judith Kyakunzire, three firms will drive the project: Hunan Construction and Investment Engineering company will handle construction, China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute will oversee feasibility and design, and Blackrock Uwekeza will finance and operate the airport on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model. President Museveni welcomed the group and pledged support for the construction of an iconic international airport in Mbarara, specifically at Nyakisharara. He said the group should coordinate with the government’s technical team to finalize the project. The President also emphasized the importance of this infrastructure project, stating that Uganda needs the airport to boost its economy, create jobs, and promote tourism and agriculture. During the consultants’ presentation, the President interjected with appreciation for the project, reflecting on the area's history and stressing the need to preserve the environment throughout the development process. Mr. Bethuel Macharia of Blackrock Uwekeza expressed enthusiasm for financing the entire project, highlighting the potential for significant economic growth. Consultants, Mr Eddie Kisitu and Mr. Abubakar Kaseruuzi of Hamster Business Solutions showcased the benefits of the airport, including facilitating transit between Latin America, China, Indonesia, and Australia, which would generate enormous revenue for Uganda and the region. The airport is expected to facilitate regional routes and have a profound impact on Uganda's economy, with projections suggesting it could triple the country's economic output. The Project is set to be up and running by 2030 under the President's initiative: Party and Term Oriented Delivery.

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03 September 2025
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI CALLS ON UGANDAN DIASPORA TO REGISTER FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT PLANNING

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Ugandans living abroad to formally register with the government through their respective associations, saying the process will enable the state to plan better for them and deepen engagement between Uganda and its diaspora community. The President made the appeal on Tuesday, 2nd September, 2025 at State Lodge, Nakasero while addressing a delegation of National Resistance Movement (NRM) party members from across the globe, many of whom had travelled to Kampala to participate in the recently concluded NRM Delegates Conference. “What is crucial now is to know the Ugandans, name by name, country by country, so that we know how to plan for them. Do you agree with that?” President Museveni asked the gathering, attracting a resounding “yes” from representatives from more than 20 countries. President Museveni underscored the importance of accurate data on Ugandans living abroad, stressing that the initiative is not limited to NRM supporters. He explained that the government intends to map out the diaspora comprehensively to create better support structures, strengthen ties, and unlock opportunities for investment and development. “We need to know all the diaspora, whether they are NRM or not. Then the NRM people will have their own leadership elected by themselves, and even the other bigger diaspora, if they want, can have their own structures, whether they support NRM or not,” the President said. He emphasized that the registration drive would not only help determine the true number of Ugandans abroad, which has often been estimated at around four million, but also ensure that the government can engage with them more effectively. “You may be saying we are talking of four million, but when they are not there. They may be less or more,” he added, drawing applause from the delegates. The registration process will be spearheaded by the NRM’s Director of External Affairs, Maj. (Rtd). Awich Pollar, in collaboration with State House staff led by Ms. Barbra Barungi. The President directed them to work with Ugandan community leaders in each country to facilitate a transparent and inclusive registration process. “You must work with the people on the ground, country by country, so that you can register Ugandans who want to be registered. The diaspora is not only NRM. There is a diaspora who are not NRM, but these are Ugandans,” H.E. Museveni emphasized. President Museveni acknowledged that past efforts to organize Ugandans abroad have not been “very clear” but said the government was determined to set up more streamlined structures going forward. “What is clear is that the organization has not been very clear. Let’s start now,” he said. Among the countries represented at the meeting were the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Scotland, Australia, Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, China, Qatar, Turkey and Wales. Diaspora to have a direct voice in investment: In a bid to enhance diaspora participation in Uganda’s development, President Museveni announced that a special position will be created within the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) to represent Ugandans abroad. “Therefore, for the investments, I will appoint one of you once you recommend him or her as a deputy director of the Uganda Investment Authority. So that when you come, you go to him directly without going through other people,” the President pledged. Maj. (Rtd). Pollar elaborated on the constitutional framework that anchors NRM structures abroad. He explained that Article 25 of the NRM Constitution provides that where 20 or more Ugandans in a foreign country wish to associate under the party, they may form an NRM branch. Such a branch holds the same status as an NRM district within Uganda. “This means that NRM UK, for instance, is equivalent to NRM Mbarara, Hoima, or Soroti district,” Maj. (Rtd). Pollar explained. He further noted that branches could establish smaller units, such as cells in different cities. “If you’re in America, you can have cells in Boston and Washington; that is a provision in Article 25 of the NRM Constitution,” he said. According to Maj. (Rtd). Pollar, 20 active NRM diaspora branches were represented at the recent Delegates Conference, and they duly qualified to attend the National Executive Committee and national conference proceedings. “Now that His Excellency has guided us, we can go back and concretize these guidelines drafted by Dr. Tanga Odoi, and we will conduct elections accordingly,” he added. Speaking on behalf of the diaspora delegates, Mr. Philip Kakuru thanked the President for meeting them at short notice and reaffirmed their commitment to contributing to Uganda’s development. “We would like to thank God for your tireless commitment and devotion to our country and the continent. We in the diaspora feel honored that when we mention your name, they salute all of us courtesy of your great work of Pan-Africanism that you have done on the continent,” Mr. Kakuru said. He explained that the Ugandan diaspora are eager to become a recognized constituency, playing an active role in nation-building through investment, advocacy, and community development initiatives.

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01 September 2025
UGANDA IS NOT HOMOPHOBIC; WE ARE ONLY AGAINST THE DELIBERATE PROMOTION OF THIS DEVIANT BEHAVIOR

On 15th August 2025, four of their colleagues attacked them accusing them of promoting homosexuality tendencies amongst the student community. School administration was quick to react, and the four boys weren’t harmed in any way. Since then, some human rights defenders have castigated government making all manner of accusations. The saddest accusation was that Uganda is beginning to weaponize the Anti Homosexuality Act 2023. On May 2, 2023, the Parliament of Uganda passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, which had been returned to parliament for more improvement. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni accented to the bill. Hell broke loose largely from the Global North, which was calling the leadership in Uganda all manner of names. World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced the withdrawal of their support, and more sanctions were being planned until President Donald Trump assumed office as President of the USA and things changed dramatically. To them, curtailing the promotion and funding of LGTBQ campaigns within our communities is to commit gross human rights abuses like committing genocide. For the record, Uganda and Ugandans are not homophobic. For clarity’s sake, Ugandans have never killed their few homosexuals that exist within their communities. In fact, they treat them as unfortunate people with deviant behavior and then manage them with care and sympathy. The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 is intended to manage homosexuals in a way that can lead to rehabilitation and restoration. The Act, more importantly, curtails the deliberate campaign of spreading homosexuality among our children. For some time now, some entities from the Western world were funding the promotion of this vice among our poor and vulnerable communities using many uncouth approaches. They take advantage of our poor and needy communities, where they will throw some money, but with clear conditions that the recipients must promote LGBTQ campaigns among our people especially children. Of course, this behavior is not in our norms, and those assigned to promote it on behalf of the global community tend to land into problems that are at times fatal. The values of a society are significant because they determine the contents of its norms, which help maintain social order. Each value has a corresponding norm, or put differently, all norms express social values. Every individual, every family, and indeed, every society has principles and standards that are appreciated and held in high regard, as well as those that are abhorred. In fact, the main social challenges Uganda is facing are drug abuse by the youth and not homosexuality, i.e., alcoholism and drug consumption. However, Uganda has put in place laws and regulations to handle such challenges. Our Penal Code offers effective punitive measures to curtail such challenges. Besides, there are institutions and organizations that are professionally and technically equipped to counsel and guide such victims. Rehabilitation centers have been put in place. There are some that are run by the government and others by private organizations. They tackle such victims of abuse. Butabika National Referral Hospital has been expanded and equipped to handle victims of drug abuse. Therefore, it is not right for human right defenders to keep throwing themselves around with condemnations every time we take decisions that are meant to protect our social values. As a country, we took firm resolutions to refuse the idea of promoting the Gay Agenda to be part of our human development. To those that thought that by freezing us out of their development loans, we would bend on our knees and repeal the Anti homosexuality Act, must have now realized that that was a wrong idea. It is years now down the road and we are going strong economically. Finally, it is a wrong belief among our Western friends to think that to be civilized and humane is to swallow the Western way of life; to be barbaric and cruel is to be non-western. There is a racist tinge in this cultural rhetoric that presents the particular as universal. It echoes the spread of Christianity during the colonial encounter: African religions were called satanic. To have faith was to be Christian. As Africans, we have no identity except as carbon copies of "Western men." The Western effort to shape African nations and societies in their own image is written all over the place for everybody to see. While many Western actors in these endeavors genuinely believe they have our best interests at heart, and while they have many local allies who share their vision, they are not any different from their colonial ancestors who came here claiming to spread the three Cs: Christianity, Commerce, and Civilization. These efforts to shape us according to their fancies show contempt for our uniqueness. Africa needs to be given space to shape its future. The writer is the Acting Executive Director Uganda Media Centre

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30 August 2025
CDF, TAME ERRANT OFFICERS MISUSING SOLDIERS AND FIRE ARMS IN ELECTIONS

As the next election campaign season approaches, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba should reign in on UPDF Generals, and senior officers, serving and retired, who misuse personal guards to meddle in civil elections. Often, these officers who have connections with military installations around the country obtain unofficial soldiers who they deploy in support of their friends or relatives who are candidates. Without appearing to bad-mouth the UPDF, some are said to be on for hire by politicians in election campaigns. It is unclear how the UPDF reached this low point. In the just concluded NRM internal elections we witnessed such illegal deployments of UPDF soldiers in Busia, Gulu, Butaleja and Sembabule districts where they obstructed candidates, their supporters, and police officers on duty. There was a recently retired General from Karamoja who was so notorious in Busia where police officers were so hapless in the face of his bullying. Earlier, the country had watched in consternation and embarrassment when UPDF got overtly involved including the deployment of heavy military war hardware in the Kawempe North parliamentary bye-election, and act that dented NRM support and image too. Like the ongoing cracking of the whip on suspected corrupt officers including several Generals now in custody as investigations roll, errant behaviour by soldiers in civilian elections is bringing the UPDF into disrepute. For avoidance of any doubt, the official known role of the UPDF in securing stability including during elections is not contested. It is also imperative, that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abbas Byakagaba, provides strong and professional leadership and guidance to his officers and men so they can have confidence while in command to calmly withstand bullying and intimidation by these soldiers on illegal personal errands. A timid police officer in command, but unsure of his own orders, trembling and sweating in their uniform before an errant army officer, or irate politician, is a recipe for chaos during an election season, particularly bad on polling day. Similarly, over-board conduct by police officers, especially the District Police Commanders (DPCs) who sometimes take over the role of election officers upon being bribed by candidates, to announce the winners, must be checked. But as the old adage goes, “it takes two to tangle,” and so to have a clean election season, we the politicians, especially candidates and supporters must check ourselves as a collective. While election politics is emotive, in Uganda today, it seems that anything goes, violence, intimidation, blackmail, open bribery, and extortion are all wrapped-up in the name of freedom and democracy. Free speech is a cornerstone of democracy, but we have taken political rabble rousing down the line of slander and defamation against rivals in contests. Harmonization meetings often descend into shouting matches, or break-up even before they start, and so no mutual ground rules to govern the campaigns. Abrasive conduct by candidates and supporters even against the police, law enforcement officers and election officials has become normalized, and so few respect the rules, yet surely Uganda is not a jungle. And with opposition activists on a hostile confrontational path, emboldened by the open mischievous conducts of some elements within NRM, it is hard to see how a trajectory of respect for common rules will be engendered. The NRM is a huge party whose heart beats, but with a weak pulse because those at the centre probably do not feel or believe that they are powerful enough. To bring back discipline in the electoral process, my one pence proposal is that the NRM Secretary General, Richard Todwong, should hand every flagbearer a golden rule on election misconduct. In this era of capricious digital warriors playing by their own rules and constantly conveying mischief, the NRM must, as of necessity, be more alert and two steps ahead to deliver a cleaner election.

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23 August 2025
MUSEVENI, NRM CONFERENCES AND PROTECTING UGANDA’S GAINS OF FORTY YEARS

It has been three months of non-stop political activities in Uganda as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) undertook internal electoral renewal of leaders from the villages to national level that is concluding this coming week with the holding of its National delegates Conference. Hopefully, the vetting will weed out the chaff from the wheat so that NRM restores clean leadership that serves the country purposefully and diligently. NRM last held internal elections in 2015, and skipped 2020 due to the COVID19 global pandemic. The meetings, and conferences began on Wednesday this week with the Central Executive Committee (CEC), its apex organ vetting candidates for national offices including President Yoweri Museveni as presidential flagbearer for the 2026 elections. In open-dirty war, is Speaker Emeritus Rebecca Kadaga, on CEC for two decades seeking to maintain her seat, while the current, Annet Anita Among seem determine to inherit the throne. CEC was followed by the meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of eight hundred delegates among them all NRM MPs, NRM and local government Chairpersons and the top leadership at the party Secretariat. Tomorrow 24,845 delegates will swamp Kampala to participate in series of elections to choose national leaders of the eight different leagues comprising Elders, Women, Youths, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), Workers, Veterans, Entrepreneurs, and Historicals which takes place on Monday. At the conclusion of these elections, the delegates will then participate in the two-day National Conference that will end on 28 August 2025 at Kololo Independence Grounds. These events should provide many opportunities, if not windfall, especially for the middle and lower business communities in Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso as NRM delegates whose pockets will be healthy, courtesy of the party, seek accommodation, food, entertainment, transport, and local tourism. Mid-week, NRM unveiled a new portrait of a younger-looking Yoweri Museveni, that will be used for the forthcoming presidential campaigns. Some critics were quick to jeer and sneer, although in the NRM we shall brush it off as being driven mainly by jealousy of potential political bad-losers. Alongside the presidential candidate’s portrait, NRM also launched its forthcoming election campaign theme “Protecting the Gains,” of the last four decades under President Museveni. Over this period, NRM political activities have dominated the ground, media landscape and opinion narratives, which in public relations practice is good. NRM also now seems to have put aspects of election fiasco neatly behind, especially with non-dramatic ways in which its election tribunal handled and disposed off the hundreds of petitions. And maybe, NRM leaders at the top could start considering overall evaluation of its internal elections, including the possibility of amend its constitution to down size its structure, revert to electoral college, and revert to secret ballot elections. With these elections NRM now has close to three million six hundred leaders countrywide, which, if put to effective use should deliver a credible and convincing electoral victory come 12 January 2026. These numbers could also keep in touch with population, mobilize for better uptake of government programs for socio-economic transformation, supervise and monitor effective implementation, and as well detect and curtail corruption incidences early enough, but alas. NRM, could thus, leave its many opponents and detractors including the opposition parties as mere sulking spectators with no credible direction or agenda of their own, although some of them may soon begin to menacingly swing their hockey butts aimlessly. And of course we look forward in disdain to their self-false pompousness as they seek political validation. Nevertheless, as we look towards the nominations for president and parliament by the Justice Simon Byabakama Mugyenyi Electoral Commission, slated in early October for next year’s general elections, NRM as a vanguard party, holding a revolutionary, liberation, emancipation and transformative agenda, must keep to the high expectations it gave Ugandans when it assumed leadership four decades ago.

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16 August 2025
RUNNING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION CAMPAIGN ON A THIN BUDGET

Three months ago when I declared my intention to run for parliament, one UPDF General called me up to say he was sending five million shillings to kick-start my election campaigns for MP Older Persons Eastern Region. He kept his word on the dot. Next, a senior minister called to say his political assistant would deliver three million shillings the next day, and he too kept his word. By the third day since declaration that I was running to get the NRM flag at the national delegates conference due between August 22-28, another senior minister delivered five hundred liters of diesel, and so my campaign got rolling in a non-stop roller coaster. I have so far done all the forty districts, seven municipalities and six city divisions that constitute the Eastern Region electoral area stretching from Jinja to Kaberamaido, Kapelebyong, Katakwi to the hills and valleys of Sebei, Bugisu and Bukedi. Ministers, MPs, NRM comrades, and friends, many of them also running their own election campaigns, keep dropping in some small amounts, mostly what Americans would call small donations, ensuring that my campaign trail does not get glitches.in the last week of July, a senior police officer delivered five million shillings and offered one hundred liters of diesel for the five weeks to the end of elections. Must of the money received has been spent on basic items directly related to the elections like transport cost for self, personal staff, delegates, meeting venues, coordination, publicity and refreshments. I have been able to meet nearly all the delegates in face-to-face consultations at their respective districts. For some, I traveled to their homes where we have had meals with their families. The experience has been so refreshing especially getting to know people up-close. Because of my recent farming activities in Kapelebyong, Teso region seem to treat like a wonderful son of the soil. The thirty-nine years I have been in NRM affairs, starting with being a military trainer and political education lecturer at our institutions, work in journalism, and media, have given me an illustrious name, voice and face recognition that there is no single district NRM I have not found people who already know me. Most of them believe and say I would make a good MP, advocate for Older Persons issues, and indeed strengthen the NRM voice in parliament, but whether they will deliver, will be tested on polling day. In every region and district, I found volunteers among our NRM older persons league committees, who on account of the silence and dumbness of the incumbent, believe it is time to change for a strong, bold, loud and consistence advocacy, lobbying and forward planning for older persons. It is important that we stop treating parliamentary seats for special interest groups (SIGs) as ‘welfare’ for the office-holders as seems to be today, in the case of older persons. We should utilise these seats to boldly raise the voice of older persons especially on health, welfare, sustainable income and security of personal property particularly for the most vulnerable who are increasingly becoming fewer in Uganda’s decision-making platforms. The younger people who constitute the majority in policy-making positions ought to be persuaded to know they will one day become old, vulnerable, and in need of government support unless they plan their personal lives adequately. This election campaign has exposed me to the deep ordeals older persons silently suffer from, and many eventually get buried into the earthly dust without even their own close associates knowing, and it is painful. There is urgent need to start brooding specialised attention to this category of Ugandans especially considering that free labour from relatives and community is becoming scarce as people pay more attention to things that bring income to their households rather than charity.

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13 August 2025
THE WAR ON TERROR IS OURS TO LOSE; THE UN EXPERT REPORT WON’T DERAIL OUR MOMENTUM

In July 2025, the UN team of experts on the conflict in DR Congo presented a report to the president of the UN Security Council alleging that Uganda and Rwanda were supporting the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo. M23, is a rebel movement fighting the regime in Kinshasa and have since taken control of a big area of the Kivu provinces in Eastern DR Congo. This rather unfortunate report made far-fetched allegations totally unsubstantiated and full of hearsays. The deployment of UPDF in DR Congo for the Operation Shuja seem to have made it easier for the UN investigators to make many misrepresentations. For the record, Uganda’s deployment in DR Congo was agreed on by the two governments i.e. DR Congo and Uganda and the mandate to be there has been continuously renewed by the government of DR Congo. As a result, the war on terrorism has picked momentum ever since we made the decision to follow the ADF in the jungles of eastern DRC in Dec 2021. Peace has since been established in that region and Congolese are back to their homes going on with their lives. The ADF terrorists weren’t only pausing a threat to Uganda through regular cross border attacks, they were committing genocide on the helpless Congolese citizens in the Ituri Province. Therefore, no amount of UN noise is going to stop Uganda’s war on terror, be it in DR Congo or beyond. Similarly, the UPDF in recent weeks has been engaged in bitter battles with the Al shabaab terrorists in Somalia. Reports coming in indicate heavy losses on the part of Al Shabab. They are losing ground and towns that they had recaptured ever since troop contributing countries downsized their numbers or withdrew completely like Burundi did from now phased out Africa Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in 2022. This famous quote from former US president could give us a more enriched perspective. “These terrorists kill not merely to end lives, but to disrupt and end a way of life. With every atrocity, they hope that America grows fearful, retreating from the world and forsaking our friends. They stand against us because we stand in their way. We're not deceived by their pretenses to piety. We have seen their kind before. They're the heirs of all the murderous ideologies of the 20th century. By sacrificing human life to serve their radical visions, by abandoning every value except the will to power, they follow in the path of fascism, Nazism and totalitarianism. And they will follow that path all the way to where it ends in history's unmarked grave of discarded lies”, President George Bush Junior. This was his speech to the nation 9 days after the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the US. The moral value of this famous quote is that any country worthy of its name must be firm and decisive in dealing with terrorism within its borders and beyond. The hunt for these ADF terrorists therefore has been stretched beyond our borders. As we speak the Uganda Peoples Defense Force ( UPDF) together with the DR Congo national force, FARDC are in Ituri province of eastern hunting down the ADF terror outfit and will eliminate them once and for all however long it takes. Defeating terrorism requires both regional and international cooperation and now that Uganda has both, we can only count days before we extinct these criminals. Cooperation in such operations is so critical. ADF is no longer a rag tag rebel outfit in the jungles of DR Congo. It is now fully allied to international terrorist group of ISIS. When ADF terrorist struck in the middle of Kampala in November 2021, the ISIS publicly claimed victory over the operation. Caution should be made to some of our Western allies who have been hoodwinked by some phony human rights organizations that quite often derail such firm approaches to defeat terrorism. Unfortunately, they tend to find allies in some quarters both within political opposition and their funders in the outside world. For example, some have already begun castigating Uganda’s security agencies on its firmness while handling these criminals. No country has defeated terrorism with kid gloves. Be it the USA, UK, France, Russia, China etc. These countries have had to take strong decisive decisions to counter such terror organizations and those who sponsor them. Finally, no amount of misleading reports from any quarter should derail this struggle. The UPDF record talks for itself. When the NRA which later morphed into UPDF were liberating Uganda from the hands of tyrants, they only relied on Ugandans who clearly understood their cause. After all, the world knows what some African countries especially in West and Central Africa are reaping from not taking firm decisions while handling terrorists. Terrorists threaten our collective security and we must collectively as Africans handle this threat to reaffirm our territorial integrity. Short of that we can only prepare for the worst. The writer is the Acting Executive Director Uganda Media Centre

National News

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PRESIDENT MUSEVENI MEETS NRM BUGANDA PARLIAMENTARY CAUCUS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni last evening met and discussed a wide range of developmental issues with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Buganda Parliamentary Caucus at State House, Entebbe. During the meeting, President Museveni guided the caucus on a number of issues on service delivery and development in Buganda and across the country. “You, the new leaders, need to defend the legitimate interests of the people of Uganda and Buganda because Buganda is the major beneficiary of the NRM revolution and anybody who does not see that is an enemy of Buganda,” he said. The President noted that because of peace brought by the NRM government, a lot of development including good roads, industries, among others have been achieved in Buganda and Uganda in general. President Museveni also thanked NRM MPs from Buganda region for the good work of sensitizing the masses and monitoring government programs. President Museveni therefore tasked the leaders to now put their main focus on the homestead income of Ugandans. “Strategically Buganda is the direct beneficiary of NRM so if all the people get involved in creating wealth, Uganda will be the most developed country in the world.” He further noted that land fragmentation remains one of the biggest challenges facing the region and the country at large. Hon. Migadde Robert Ndugwa, the chairperson of the NRM Buganda Parliamentary group and the MP for Buvuma County presented the group’s Memorandum of Understanding and thanked the President for his exceptional leadership steering Uganda’s development forward. He noted that the group has been moving in the region at constituency level to respond to community concerns and monitor government programs. The deputy Secretary General of the NRM party, Hon. Rose Namayanja thanked President Museveni for his guidance on the different areas of development and service delivery. She thanked the group for the unity and commitment, further asking them to work harder for the people and deliver success for the NRM party in the region.

2025-09-06

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PRESIDENT MUSEVENI PASSES-OUT 1,372 PATRIOTIC SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today passed out 1,372 secondary school teachers from Greater Mbarara and Ntungamo regions who have been undergoing a patriotism course at Ntare School, Mbarara City. The training which started on 26th August, 2025, ran under the theme: “Transforming Teachers lives through Patriotism”. During the pass-out ceremony, President Museveni congratulated the participants for successfully finishing their course. “I want to thank Hellen Seku and the instructors for training you very well in such a short time,” he said. According to President Museveni, the effort of patriotism which he launched in 2009 is very crucial for the country to know what to do. “It is very dangerous to have citizens, especially educated people who don't know what is required to live a good life. This is why I keep saying management of a society is like medicine where the doctor must make a diagnosis of a patient and therefore prescribe a medicine. Similarly, leaders whatever they are must have a correct diagnosis of a society. If they don't, that society will fail.” President Museveni noted that when the National Resistance Movement (NRM) came into power, they took the trouble to know the problems affecting Uganda and how to solve them. They did this by identifying the three historical missions and coming up with the four core principles of the NRM. “The moment you become a wealth creator; you will need the four principles of the NRM. The prosperity of Ankole, Buganda, Acholi and other regions depends a lot on Uganda. That's why we were able to say that you people love Uganda, why? Because you need it for your own prosperity hence patriotism,” he urged. “Patriotism is not emotional; you love because you need it for your own good. If you say you care about Ankole, but you don't care about Uganda, you are not serious because Uganda is the one which helps the Banyankore and other tribes to be prosperous.” President Museveni also underscored the role of Pan-Africanism in promoting external markets. “Once you start producing you will find that the internal market of Uganda is not enough. That's why the NRM says that you people love Uganda but also love East Africa and Africa. That's the second principle, Pan-Africanism. The third principle is socio-economic transformation and then democracy.” At the same event, President Museveni explained why the government took a decision to first pay scientists better at the expense of their counterparts. “We need roads, factories, veterinary doctors, crop scientists, so since we need these very badly, why don't we start by paying scientists a bit better so that they help us to go to another level but when we did that maybe we didn't explain very well some people said all us must get. Now if we try to give all you at a go the little, we have, we shall not be able to go anywhere. What we need now is how to maintain that road, not poetry. It's not that we don't want to pay others well, but we have what we call urgency. That's the logic,” he stated. “I'm glad that now you seem to understand, and we are moving systematically. Arts teachers will also be paid well. Artisan teachers should also be paid like scientists. I will sort that out because artisans are scientists.” Regarding the issue of paying bribes to get the teachers onto the payroll, the President assured them that he will handle the matter. Additionally, President Museveni tasked the teachers to create wealth through the four sectors of the economy which include, commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT. On her part, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni congratulated the participants for successfully completing a life-impacting training. “I believe it will transform our schools and above all restart the lives of the participants, the teachers themselves,” she said. “I must thank Ms. Hellen Seku and the entire National Patriotism Secretariat for the job well done by keeping the fire of patriotism burning in the hearts of our young people and now reaching out to touch the teaching service itself.” The First Lady further informed the President that teachers are a critical asset in the country because they impart the value of patriotism in the minds and hearts of the young people. “The time a teacher spends in the life of a child or young person is valuable in moulding what it means to love one's country. This love for one's country is demonstrated when citizens put the interest of their country before the pursuit of personal interests,” Maama Janet noted. “The spirit of patriotism challenges the citizen to look at themselves as a central contributor to their nation's well-being for the common interest of all as opposed to focusing on the pursuit of personal interests and gains. Therefore, the prosperity of a nation cannot be divorced from the patriotism of its people.” Maama Janet also explained that when service, hard work and unity are passed in the interest of the common good of the people in the nation, such a society is unstoppable in whatever they set themselves to do. “There are several examples of nations that have transformed themselves into socio-economic giants by simply pursuing ambitious goals for the nation in the best interest for the common good.” On the other hand, the First Lady advocated for sacrificial service among the teachers, explaining that, that's how a critical mass of people transform their society. “It is important that we appreciate that the nations that are doing well, were not always doing well. The welfare of the public service workforce was not always that good when they were still in a state of limited resources. However, they did not destroy the little they had, they preserved it and built on it to get to where they are today.” The Commissioner, National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps (NSPC)-State House, Ms. Hellen Seku informed the President that the Secretariat organised the training for secondary school teachers following requests from a number of teachers who felt that they needed to undergo the training to become change agents to the students and communities around them. “The objectives of the training were; to empower teachers in promoting patriotism through role modelling, discipline and a commitment to national cause, ultimately developing a generation of responsible and loyal citizens,” she said. “And to also develop their abilities to foster harmony and a spirit of hard work for national building and hence wealth creation as well as inculcating values and norms of patriotism among teachers.” Commissioner Seku further lauded President Museveni and Maama Janet for their strategic guidance and leadership in the initiative. The Head teacher of Ntare school and one of the coordinators of the program, Mr. Saul Rwampororo said the teachers were drawn from seven districts and one city including Mbarara City, Mbarara district, Ntungamo, Rwampara, Isingiro, Ibanda, Kiruhura and Kazo. “The participants’ wellbeing during the training was fully sponsored by the National Patriotism Secretariat - State House,” he said. “These participants have had first hand patriotism lectures from high level professionals and have also been trained in standard parade drills by skilled military personnel. I'm sure the quality of patriotism they have acquired is standard.” On behalf of the trainees, Mr. Perez Assimwe, the Chairman Memorandum Committee for Trainees, appreciated the facilitators and instructors that took them through the training session, explaining that the content was broad enough and sustainable for the course theme. “The 1,372 patriotic teachers were so cooperative and responsive to every activity that took place in this training camp,” he said. “Your Excellency, during this training, all the trainees were able to gain knowledge on the need for the East African Integration and Pan-Africanism, patriotism and its core values, political economy, the social systems and man’s role in transformation, financial literacy, Principles of the NRM, among others.” Mr. Asiimwe also thanked President Museveni for giving them an opportunity to be the first group of employees in the region to receive the patriotism training. “Our dear President, we are indebted to you for enhancing science teachers’ salaries and the fruitful engagement you had with teachers of arts in regard to their salary enhancement come 2026- 2027 Financial Year. This is a real indicator that you really care for the bazzukulu.”

2025-09-06

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PRESIDENT MUSEVENI PLEDGES TO UPLIFT VETERANS FROM POVERTY

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has vowed to intensify efforts to improve the welfare of veterans who fought in Uganda’s liberation struggles, saying that it is unacceptable for those who risked their lives for the country’s freedom to languish in poverty. “It’s not good to have the veterans in poverty. It’s not good at all,” President Museveni told a gathering of veterans drawn from Luwero, Wakiso, Nakasongola, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, and Nakaseke districts. He made the remarks on Wednesday, 3rd September, 2025, while delivering a lecture of opportunity and officially closing the Transformational Leadership Course Intake 07/2025 for veteran cadres at State House, Entebbe, blending reflections on Uganda’s historical liberation journey, the ideological foundation of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), and practical measures to empower ex-servicemen economically. The President emphasized that the sacrifices of the veterans, many of whom took part in the 1981–1986 liberation war, should not be betrayed by a life of deprivation. “The ones who are leaving now are going with better packages, but for those who sacrificed earlier, we must make up for the shortfalls. We shall do this through revolving funds, organized at the zone level,” he added, while encouraging veterans to organize themselves in structured associations and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) through which the government can channel financial support. “We are giving money to the Kampala ghetto boys. Why can’t we give money to the SACCOs of veterans?” H.E. Museveni noted. President Museveni insisted that veterans must be integrated into the four key sectors of the modern economy—commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT – to ensure sustainable income and prosperity. He stressed that veterans without land should not be left behind. Instead, they could embrace trade, artisanship, or small-scale manufacturing. “If you don’t have land, then your option is to have omwoga—an economic activity that is not based on land. You can do maize milling, tailoring, carpentry, or other trades that generate income,” he said. Reflecting on the early stages of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) launched in 2013, President Museveni revealed that veterans were always intended to be the first beneficiaries. “I told General Saleh to first give seedlings to all the veteran families and those who supported us during the war. Only after that should others benefit. But I later heard some veterans missed out because they lacked land,” the President noted. President Museveni used the same platform to revisit the three historical missions of the NRM, which are anchored in four ideological principles: patriotism, pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy that shaped Uganda’s liberation struggle, beginning with prosperity for all. He explained that genuine prosperity comes from every individual or family producing goods and services for sale, not from dependency or handouts. To illustrate these principles, the President recounted how his father, Mzee Kaguta, sold cattle in cultural auction markets in Ntungamo to raise his school fees, with support from traders like Walusimbi Mpanga and Bukenya who were not of their tribe. This experience, he said, showed that prosperity relies not only on local communities but also on broader national and regional markets. “I like the story of how I went to school. I was able to go to the school system in the 1950s and 1960s when the school system was for paying. How did I manage? How did Mr. Kaguta manage to pay my school fees? Kaguta had traditional cows, but he had no money. The only way he could get money was from the traders. A trader was coming from Kampala, here called Walusimbi Mpanga. He would come all the way to all those areas in Ntungamo and buy our cows. So that's how Kaguta now converts his cows into money, and he's able to pay my school fees and do a few other things,” he said, adding that the prosperity of the Banyankore and any other tribe depends more on Uganda. Why East African integration matters: The President delved into Uganda’s surplus production challenges, underscoring the role of regional markets. He said Uganda produces 5.3 billion liters of milk annually but consumes only 800 million. The same applies to other products like maize, where 5 million tons are produced against local consumption of 1 million, and sugar, where Uganda produces 700,000 tons against the domestic demand of 300,000 tons. President Museveni explained that without regional and continental markets, Uganda’s industries would collapse under the weight of excess production. “Fortunately, there is a regional market that buys our extra milk, beef, and maize. So that's why we say we need East Africa, we need Africa for our own prosperity. And that's why we say the second principle is pan-Africanism; Love Africa. Why? Because you need it for your own good,” he said. On behalf of the veterans, Captain (Rtd) Leonard Settimba delivered a memorandum outlining concerns and requests, which included a revolving fund, requesting the government to channel affordable loans through Wazalendo SACCO or other institutions to support their income-generating ventures. They also proposed an annual national day to celebrate and reunite Kadogos and bush war fighters, which would also serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made for Uganda’s freedom. The veterans expressed fears of land evictions but were assured by the President that no one would be removed from their land provided they pay busuulu (ground rent). Brigadier General Justus Rukundo, Commandant of the Oliver Reginald Tambo Leadership School and Pan-African Centre of Excellence (ORTLS-PACEX), Kaweweta, thanked the President for supporting the training of veteran cadres. He revealed that the school has trained 15 intakes of officers of different ranks and continues to rejuvenate ideological clarity and leadership skills among veterans. The school is currently constructing a 20-room guest house named “ANC” in honor of South Africa’s African National Congress and Oliver Tambo. Plans for a learning auditorium and a senior officers’ dormitory await funding. The ceremony drew high-level attendance, including Hon. Alice Kaboyo, Minister of State for the Luwero Triangle and Rwenzori Region; Maj. Gen. David Mugisha, Commander of the Special Forces Command; Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Phinehas Kitirima, NRM District Chairperson for Sembabule; Maj. Gen. James Kiwanuka, UPDF Joint Staff for Human Resource Management; Maj. Gen. Steven Mugerwa, UPDF 1st Division Commander, and Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, Director of Defence Public Information.

2025-09-05

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PRESIDENT MUSEVENI MEETS NRM MOBILIZERS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today flagged off National Resistance Movement (NRM) mobilizers from all over the country to sensitize the masses on different government programs aimed at lifting the lives of the wanainchi. “It seems you are clear about the vision and strategy of NRM because that’s always the problem people, don’t know how to get out of poverty” the President said during a meeting at State House, Entebbe. The mobilizers were led by Hajat Amina Mukalazi. President Museveni who is also the National chairman of the NRM party saluted the team for their dedication and hard work. “While we have been telling people that there are four sectors of the economy that help us to get out of poverty which include commercial agriculture, manufacturing and artisanship, services and ICT, you are right to talk about mobilization regarding how the society can get out of poverty,” he added. President Museveni also asked the mobilizers to actively engage the masses in the fight against corruption and misuse of government funds meant to improve the lives of the population. He pledged to support their SACCO initiative to uplift their livelihoods. The group also presented to the President their Memorandum of Understanding, thanking the party national chairman for the good leadership that is steering Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.

2025-09-05

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MBARARA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PROJECT GETS PRESIDENTIAL BOOST

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today met and held discussions with China-based consortium proposing to build and develop an international airport in Nyakisharara, Mbarara district. The meeting took place at State House, Entebbe. The project, presented to the President by Base 7 Aviation International Academy and their consultants, Hamster Business Solutions, aims to transform the region's economic landscape. According to officials from Base 7 Aviation International Academy, Mr. Mugabi Charles and Ms. Alexandria Judith Kyakunzire, three firms will drive the project: Hunan Construction and Investment Engineering company will handle construction, China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute will oversee feasibility and design, and Blackrock Uwekeza will finance and operate the airport on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model. President Museveni welcomed the group and pledged support for the construction of an iconic international airport in Mbarara, specifically at Nyakisharara. He said the group should coordinate with the government’s technical team to finalize the project. The President also emphasized the importance of this infrastructure project, stating that Uganda needs the airport to boost its economy, create jobs, and promote tourism and agriculture. During the consultants’ presentation, the President interjected with appreciation for the project, reflecting on the area's history and stressing the need to preserve the environment throughout the development process. Mr. Bethuel Macharia of Blackrock Uwekeza expressed enthusiasm for financing the entire project, highlighting the potential for significant economic growth. Consultants, Mr Eddie Kisitu and Mr. Abubakar Kaseruuzi of Hamster Business Solutions showcased the benefits of the airport, including facilitating transit between Latin America, China, Indonesia, and Australia, which would generate enormous revenue for Uganda and the region. The airport is expected to facilitate regional routes and have a profound impact on Uganda's economy, with projections suggesting it could triple the country's economic output. The Project is set to be up and running by 2030 under the President's initiative: Party and Term Oriented Delivery.

2025-09-04

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PRESIDENT MUSEVENI CALLS ON UGANDAN DIASPORA TO REGISTER FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT PLANNING

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Ugandans living abroad to formally register with the government through their respective associations, saying the process will enable the state to plan better for them and deepen engagement between Uganda and its diaspora community. The President made the appeal on Tuesday, 2nd September, 2025 at State Lodge, Nakasero while addressing a delegation of National Resistance Movement (NRM) party members from across the globe, many of whom had travelled to Kampala to participate in the recently concluded NRM Delegates Conference. “What is crucial now is to know the Ugandans, name by name, country by country, so that we know how to plan for them. Do you agree with that?” President Museveni asked the gathering, attracting a resounding “yes” from representatives from more than 20 countries. President Museveni underscored the importance of accurate data on Ugandans living abroad, stressing that the initiative is not limited to NRM supporters. He explained that the government intends to map out the diaspora comprehensively to create better support structures, strengthen ties, and unlock opportunities for investment and development. “We need to know all the diaspora, whether they are NRM or not. Then the NRM people will have their own leadership elected by themselves, and even the other bigger diaspora, if they want, can have their own structures, whether they support NRM or not,” the President said. He emphasized that the registration drive would not only help determine the true number of Ugandans abroad, which has often been estimated at around four million, but also ensure that the government can engage with them more effectively. “You may be saying we are talking of four million, but when they are not there. They may be less or more,” he added, drawing applause from the delegates. The registration process will be spearheaded by the NRM’s Director of External Affairs, Maj. (Rtd). Awich Pollar, in collaboration with State House staff led by Ms. Barbra Barungi. The President directed them to work with Ugandan community leaders in each country to facilitate a transparent and inclusive registration process. “You must work with the people on the ground, country by country, so that you can register Ugandans who want to be registered. The diaspora is not only NRM. There is a diaspora who are not NRM, but these are Ugandans,” H.E. Museveni emphasized. President Museveni acknowledged that past efforts to organize Ugandans abroad have not been “very clear” but said the government was determined to set up more streamlined structures going forward. “What is clear is that the organization has not been very clear. Let’s start now,” he said. Among the countries represented at the meeting were the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Scotland, Australia, Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, China, Qatar, Turkey and Wales. Diaspora to have a direct voice in investment: In a bid to enhance diaspora participation in Uganda’s development, President Museveni announced that a special position will be created within the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) to represent Ugandans abroad. “Therefore, for the investments, I will appoint one of you once you recommend him or her as a deputy director of the Uganda Investment Authority. So that when you come, you go to him directly without going through other people,” the President pledged. Maj. (Rtd). Pollar elaborated on the constitutional framework that anchors NRM structures abroad. He explained that Article 25 of the NRM Constitution provides that where 20 or more Ugandans in a foreign country wish to associate under the party, they may form an NRM branch. Such a branch holds the same status as an NRM district within Uganda. “This means that NRM UK, for instance, is equivalent to NRM Mbarara, Hoima, or Soroti district,” Maj. (Rtd). Pollar explained. He further noted that branches could establish smaller units, such as cells in different cities. “If you’re in America, you can have cells in Boston and Washington; that is a provision in Article 25 of the NRM Constitution,” he said. According to Maj. (Rtd). Pollar, 20 active NRM diaspora branches were represented at the recent Delegates Conference, and they duly qualified to attend the National Executive Committee and national conference proceedings. “Now that His Excellency has guided us, we can go back and concretize these guidelines drafted by Dr. Tanga Odoi, and we will conduct elections accordingly,” he added. Speaking on behalf of the diaspora delegates, Mr. Philip Kakuru thanked the President for meeting them at short notice and reaffirmed their commitment to contributing to Uganda’s development. “We would like to thank God for your tireless commitment and devotion to our country and the continent. We in the diaspora feel honored that when we mention your name, they salute all of us courtesy of your great work of Pan-Africanism that you have done on the continent,” Mr. Kakuru said. He explained that the Ugandan diaspora are eager to become a recognized constituency, playing an active role in nation-building through investment, advocacy, and community development initiatives.

2025-09-03