President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has attributed Uganda’s stability and progress to humility in leadership, while cautioning National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders in Busoga that internal divisions are slowing development and affecting ordinary citizens.

Speaking to thousands of NRM leaders at Iganga Girls’ Secondary School on Saturday, January 10, 2026, Museveni stressed that humility, unity, and discipline are essential for effective governance and socio-economic transformation.

“So please, I ask you to be humble as leaders. If I were not humble, I would not have managed Uganda,” Museveni said, drawing applause from party cadres and local officials.

The President, also the NRM national chairman and the party’s presidential flag bearer for the 2026 general elections, said quarrels among leaders do not harm the wealthy but disproportionately affect the poor.

“What I advise you is that poor people need unity among the leaders because you are delaying their coming out of poverty by not working together,” he said.

Museveni noted that Busoga has experienced long-standing political rivalries among senior NRM leaders, which have weakened party cohesion. He contrasted the situation with regions such as Bukedi, Lango, Bugisu, West Nile, and Acholi, where leaders have demonstrated cooperation despite political differences.

The meeting, held at the request of State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Persis Namuganza, was affected by disagreements that led to the absence of some senior leaders. Museveni explained that he personally intervened to clarify confusion over invitations, including issues raised by First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga.

NRM officials later confirmed that invitations were issued through Resident District Commissioners, security officers, and party structures down to parish and village levels.

The gathering was part of NRM’s nationwide mobilisation drive ahead of the 2026 elections, aimed at strengthening party unity and ensuring message discipline at grassroots level.

Museveni highlighted the NRM’s key contributions to Uganda, emphasizing that peace and stability remain the foundation for development.

“Even without doing other things, so long as we have peace, everything can be achieved,” he said, crediting Uganda’s stability to the rejection of identity-based politics rooted in tribe and religion.

He also stressed national unity and regional trade, noting that Uganda’s agricultural and industrial sectors rely heavily on the East African Community (EAC) market for surplus products such as sugar and milk.

On wealth creation, Museveni highlighted government programmes including NAADS, Operation Wealth Creation, and the Parish Development Model (PDM), which provide financial support to parishes and help citizens increase household income.

The President said job creation naturally follows growth in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, and skilled trades, citing local enterprises that employ hundreds of Ugandans.

NRM National Vice Chairperson Moses Kigongo thanked Busoga leaders for their turnout and expressed confidence that the region would deliver strong support in the January 15, 2026 general elections.

Speaker of Parliament and Second NRM National Vice Chairperson Anita Among said the meeting aimed to reinforce unity at the grassroots level.

“Whereas Museveni is President, you are also presidents of your villages,” she told local leaders, announcing plans to raise LC1 chairpersons’ monthly allowances from Shs10,000 to Shs100,000.

“In Busoga, we have only Team Busoga and Team Museveni,” Among declared.

The meeting was attended by several senior NRM officials, including former Vice President Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama, and Minister for the Presidency Babirye Milly Babalanda.