President Yoweri Museveni has called on newly elected members of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) to prioritize production as the key pathway to ending poverty in Uganda.

In a message shared following the official opening of the leaders’ retreat at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi, Museveni congratulated the MPs and party-leaning independents on their electoral success while urging them to focus on strengthening their role as national leaders. He emphasized that leadership requires a deeper understanding of ideology, philosophy, and strategy in order to effectively identify societal challenges and develop lasting solutions.

Museveni stressed that the next generation of leaders must take responsibility for transforming Uganda’s economy by ensuring that every adult participates in productive work. He cautioned against reliance on corruption and dependency, instead encouraging wealth creation through the production of goods and services. According to the President, sustainable prosperity can only be achieved when citizens actively contribute to the economy.

The retreat at Kyankwanzi serves as a key platform for orienting newly elected legislators on the principles and strategic direction of the ruling party. Museveni noted that addressing existing weaknesses within the movement will be critical to achieving even stronger performance in the future.

In addition to economic transformation, the President also highlighted the importance of Africa’s strategic security, urging leaders to learn from historical challenges such as slavery and colonialism. He underscored the need for unity, resilience, and forward-thinking leadership to safeguard the continent’s future.

President Museveni also urged African leaders to prioritise scientific advancement, saying the continent risks being left behind as global powers push deeper into space exploration. He highlighted the need for Africa to invest in strategic capabilities like space science and regional political integration, noting that independence should have been followed by unified efforts toward technological progress. “For now, we are not there, not even the moon,” he remarked, underscoring the technological gap and warning that Africa must not remain on the sidelines while others explore beyond Earth. “We also want to go to the moon and see what is happening there. The moon is common property, but we are just here dancing paka chini when other people are up there looking at us,” the President said.

The week-long engagements are expected to equip MPs with the knowledge and perspective required to align with national priorities and drive Uganda toward a more self-reliant and prosperous future.