KAMPALA.President Yoweri Museveni has met National Resistance Movement (NRM) local leaders in Kampala, using the engagement to reflect on Uganda’s economic transformation, the importance of African markets, and the principles that have sustained national unity and peace.
The meeting held at the National ICT Hub in Nakawa on Saturday , followed an earlier engagement with NRM leaders in Busoga, underscoring what the President described as the interconnectedness of Uganda’s regions and their shared economic interests.
Addressing the leaders led by Aminah Nanziri Lukanga, the NRM Woman MP flag bearer for Kampala City, President Museveni pointed to Uganda’s shift from dependency to production, citing concrete examples from agriculture and industry.
“Uganda used to smuggle sugar from outside. Today, we produce about 700,000 tonnes, yet our internal consumption is only 300,000 tonnes,” President Museveni said, noting that without regional markets, such industries would stagnate.
He said milk production had reached about 5.3 billion litres annually, while domestic consumption stood at less than one billion litres, leaving a surplus of over four billion litres. Similar trends, he added, are evident in cement, timber and other sectors.
According to the President, these realities explain why Uganda’s prosperity cannot be separated from Africa’s wider market.
“That is when we realised that we need Africa. Pan-Africanism is not emotional; it is about prosperity,” he said.
President Museveni linked this outlook to the founding philosophy of the National Resistance Movement, which rejected politics based on identity in favour of shared interests.
“For wealth creation, identity is secondary. What matters is what you produce and who can buy it,” he said, using his own farming experience to illustrate how national and regional markets sustain livelihoods beyond ethnic or religious lines.
He said this thinking enabled the NRM to build a national party capable of uniting Ugandans and sustaining peace.
“When we say NRM has kept peace, it is because we rejected politics of identity and focused on interests,” he said.
The President also reflected on the NRM’s 40-year journey, describing peace as the first “brick” upon which other achievements were built. Without stability, he said, progress in infrastructure, education, health and wealth creation would not have been possible.
Drawing from traditional Banyankore wisdom, President Museveni explained the concept of okwombeka;- to build not merely as constructing houses, but as building sustainable livelihoods.
“Okwombeka is building a life: creating wealth, raising a family and solving problems at the household level,” he said, urging leaders to look beyond physical infrastructure and focus on economic activity within homes.
He commended government programmes such as Emyooga and the Parish Development Model (PDM), describing them as deliberate efforts to move wealth creation directly to families.
“That is why we introduced Entandikwa, Emyooga, Operation Wealth Creation and PDM—to ensure households work and create wealth,” President Museveni said.
Reflecting on Uganda’s political history, President Museveni warned against repeating mistakes rooted in identity-based politics, which he said failed to address people’s real needs.
“Whether you are from this tribe or that religion, your needs are the same; education, health, jobs and income,” he said, stressing that misdiagnosis of national problems had previously led the country into crisis.
The President concluded by reiterating that Uganda’s future lies in unity, productive work, regional cooperation and values which he said remain central to the NRM’s vision.
“I am very happy to be with you,” President Museveni told the leaders, expressing confidence that the principles that guided the movement’s past would continue to secure Uganda’s stability and prosperity.
In her remarks, Ms. Lukanga welcomed President Museveni and thanked him for the guidance and clarity he provided on Uganda’s economic prospects.
“We thank the President for his leadership and for reminding us that our focus must remain on creating wealth for Ugandans and strengthening unity across regions,” Ms. Lukanga said.
She urged local leaders to take the President’s message to heart, especially the emphasis on patriotic service and accountability.
“As leaders of Kampala, we commit to supporting initiatives that drive household income, strengthen markets and uphold the values of patriotism and unity,” she said.
“We must continue to work closely with communities, listen to their concerns and ensure that the programs designed to uplift families are implemented effectively.”
The meeting was attended by NRM Local Council I and II leaders, councillors, and other stakeholders.