At Kololo Independence Grounds, the sun dipped over a sea of yellow as thousands of National Resistance Movement (NRM) delegates listened intently to a familiar voice. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, freshly endorsed as the party’s flagbearer for the 2026 elections, closed the National Delegates Conference with an urgent warning: corruption, favoritism, and injustice are tearing at the fabric of the ruling party.
“Reject the corruption that the young people are complaining about. Reject it,” he told delegates. “Don’t annoy our members with injustice and corruption. When you do that, you divide us.”
Museveni praised party members for completing what he called a “huge exercise” that began with branch-level elections in May. He said the process revealed NRM’s vast membership of more than 20 million Ugandans, including 18.5 million registered voters—a resource he described as “too big to play around with.”
The President warned that this base must be protected by discipline and justice. “These 20 million members of the NRM want justice, fairness, and the truth. They don’t want lies, they don’t want favoritism, they don’t want corruption,” he said.
Pledges and Warnings
Museveni promised that corruption allegations within the party would be investigated thoroughly. He cautioned against condemning accused individuals before evidence is verified but assured delegates that action will follow where wrongdoing is proven.
“Nobody should pollute our NRM with bad behavior. The use of money and corruption must be condemned. In some cases, we may even take legal action,” he emphasized.
He acknowledged young people’s growing demand for accountability and framed it as a renewal of NRM’s spirit of resistance. “By resisting what you think is wrong, you are becoming true members of the National Resistance Movement. But the question is, how would you do it? You must do it in the right way.”
Lessons From History
Drawing on the past, Museveni recalled warning the Uganda People’s Congress about its failings in the early 1980s before taking up arms. “That’s why, when we started the war, nobody could blame us—we had warned them,” he said.
He urged the youth to resist corruption constructively, reinforcing unity rather than division.
Development Agenda
The President reiterated his push for household wealth creation through the Parish Development Model (PDM), noting that each parish will receive Shs 100 million annually. He explained that with repayments, funds could rise to Shs 800 million within five years.
He also promised to abolish school fees in government schools during the coming term. “We must provide free education at the same time we empower homesteads with PDM,” he declared, saying the move would stop children from dropping out.
Museveni underscored the need for reliable drugs in hospitals, better feeder roads, and safe water, pledging at least two water sources per village.
Security and Justice
The President criticized police complacency, accusing officers of sitting on crime. He instructed the NRM’s 2.4 million leaders to monitor their communities and demand accountability from law enforcement. “The thief is arrested and given police bond—say no, tell them to stop this,” he commanded.
New Leaders, Renewed Unity
The conference also confirmed new Central Executive Committee (CEC) members and special league leaders, with Anita Among, Obua Dennis Hamson, Calvin David Echodu, and others clinching key regional vice-chair positions.
Museveni congratulated winners and urged losers to remain committed. “Those who are not happy, we shall investigate those who played some games and find out,” he remarked.
Pan-African Solidarity
Fraternal parties from South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi, South Africa, and the Sahrawi Republic sent delegations to reaffirm Pan-African unity.
Kenya’s UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar, representing President William Ruto, described Uganda as a “beacon of political stability” and wished Museveni victory in the 2026 elections. Rwanda’s RPF delegation echoed the bond of “brothers and sisters in struggle.” South Africa’s ANC warned against neocolonialism and hailed NRM’s role in safeguarding sovereignty.
“The bond between the RPF and the NRM is not merely political; it is historical and ideological,” RPF Secretary General Wellars Gasamagera said.
ANC Deputy Secretary General Nomvula Mokonyane added, “Our gathering here today affirms the timeless truth that African Unity is not a luxury, but a necessity in the challenges we face.”
Museveni left delegates with a clear reminder that NRM’s strength lies in integrity, service, and vigilance. “Nobody should pollute our NRM with bad behavior,” he warned. “This is a very good chance for Uganda. Please don’t annoy them with wrong actions.”
