President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on NRM leaders to lead by example and guide communities to use government programs, instead of spending personal money on politics.
Speaking at the opening of the NRM National Delegates Conference at Kololo, Museveni said many leaders fall into corruption because they use their own money to please supporters.
“This is where corruption starts,” he warned. “Leaders must show people the right path and help them tap into initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga.”
The president urged party officials to fight corruption and ensure resources reach the people. He reminded delegates of Uganda’s economic journey, recalling how the collapse of cash crops under Idi Amin in the 1970s crippled the economy.
Museveni outlined five phases of Uganda’s economic growth: recovery of traditional exports, diversification into new crops and products, value addition, a shift to a knowledge-based economy, and the target of moving from a $66 billion economy to $500 billion as Uganda strives for upper middle-income status.
He emphasized that modern societies grow through skills and innovation, not just physical labor. “Mechanized farming, piped water, and electricity are the path to productivity,” he said.
Museveni also highlighted the difference between development and wealth. Roads, schools, and hospitals are key for development, he noted, but true wealth comes from agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and services such as hotels and boda bodas.
He urged NRM leaders to focus on wealth creation alongside infrastructure, saying this would solve unemployment and guarantee prosperity.
