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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe President elect i said Uganda\u2019s economic transformation had progressed steadily from post-war recovery to diversification, value addition, and, most recently, the emergence of a knowledge-based economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The celebrations, held under the theme \u201cTribute to the Patriots who ushered in a fundamental change,\u201d came just days after President Museveni secured another term in office in the recently concluded presidential elections, in which he was declared winner with 71 percent of the vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his address, the President thanked God and Ugandans for successfully completing the electoral process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thank God for having seen us through this big exercise of elections. Secondly, I salute all Ugandans for participating in the elections. I thank all the NRM members for supporting the NRM and its flag bearers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The President described the election outcome as a major political victory but expressed concern over what he termed as low voter turnout among NRM supporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to President Museveni, although he received about eight million votes, internal party data suggested that many more supporters were eligible to vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are celebrating a big victory in politics. I got eight million votes, but ten million of my supporters of NRM did not turn up to vote,\u201d he said, recounting challenges encountered during the party\u2019s registration exercise and the national voters\u2019 register verification process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said that while the NRM had registered about 21 million supporters\u201418 million of whom were ready to vote\u2014only eight million initially appeared on the Electoral Commission register. Although the party later ensured that at least 14 million supporters were registered in time, many still failed to cast their ballots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut I got eight million votes. So where are the rest of the votes? That means some of our people did not turn up to vote,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gen. Museveni attributed the low turnout to two main factors: intimidation by opposition supporters and indiscipline within sections of the NRM leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hear the opposition wasting time talking nonsense. They are lucky because not all of my supporters turned up. If they had all turned up, there would be no opposition in Uganda,\u201d President Museveni said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He alleged that some NRM supporters were threatened and attacked during the campaign period, while law enforcement agencies failed to act decisively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPeople were threatening our supporters, telling them, \u2018you are the reason why Museveni is still leading us.\u2019 You have no right to say that. Why would the police hear this and do nothing?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The President also criticised what he described as selfishness and indiscipline among some NRM leaders, which he said discouraged citizens from exercising their civic rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Economy is moving very fast:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Turning to the economy, President Museveni said Uganda was currently growing at about seven percent annually and projected even faster growth once oil production begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe economy is moving very fast, growing at seven percent now, and with the oil, we are going to go into double digits. This year, your oil will start flowing,\u201d he said, adding that Uganda had resisted external attempts to control its petroleum resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, he acknowledged that despite overall growth, a significant segment of the population remained trapped in subsistence production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese are the ones who are still in poverty,\u201d President Museveni said, tracing the challenge back to colonial economic structures that excluded the majority of Africans from meaningful participation in the money economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At independence in 1962, President Museveni said, only about nine percent of Ugandans were involved in the money economy. Although the proportion increased over time, progress remained slow until the NRM introduced wealth creation programmes, starting with early initiatives such as Entandikwa, which provided micro-credit to small-scale entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By 2013, he said, only about 32 percent of households were in the money economy, while 68 percent were producing mainly for subsistence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This, he explained, prompted the launch of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), under which the Uganda People\u2019s Defence Forces (UPDF) distributed seedlings and agricultural inputs across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen we checked in 2019, 61 percent of Ugandans were in the money economy, while 39 percent were still in the subsistence economy,\u201d President Museveni said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, concerns emerged over what he described as \u201cbeegabira bokka\u201d\u2014elite capture of government programmes, leading to the introduction of the Parish Development Model (PDM), which channels funds directly to communities at the parish level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to President Museveni, the proportion of Ugandans in the money economy has now risen to 70 percent, leaving about 30 percent still outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe don\u2019t want a country of 70 percent rich people while 30 percent are poor,\u201d he said, issuing a stern warning against the misuse of PDM funds, citing cases where local officials and committees had diverted money for personal gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, he said, PDM resources had been monopolised by a few individuals, including parish chiefs and so-called focal persons, contrary to programme guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s not how the PDM is supposed to be. PDM needs a general meeting of the whole parish with everybody above 18 years, and the general meeting should elect a committee,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n President Museveni said the government would amend PDM guidelines, increase funding, especially in urban areas where parishes have larger populations, and enforce strict accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe may have to put 300 or 400 million shillings per parish in towns because the homes there are many,\u201d he said, adding that rural households could be fully covered within three years if funds are properly utilised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He warned that parish chiefs who violate PDM rules would be arrested, noting that officials in Buwambo, Maracha, and Iganga had already been apprehended following complaints from residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While those who improperly formed committees would be barred from leadership positions and required to refund money, President Museveni said individuals who extorted funds from beneficiaries would face prosecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond PDM, President Museveni said the government would continue supporting other groups, including boda boda riders, ghetto youth, cultural and religious leaders, unemployed university graduates, and political leaders at the parish level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal, he said, was to ensure that all Ugandans are actively involved in wealth creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis will be emphasis number one,\u201d President Museveni said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He added that once household incomes improve, the government would intensify investment in education and health, particularly in addressing curative health challenges, while preventive programmes such as immunisation continue to perform well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Infrastructure development, especially maintenance of rural roads, will also remain a priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe don\u2019t want any unrepaired roads, whether tarmac or marram,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Justice and corruption:<\/p>\n\n\n\n On governance, President Museveni said the fight against corruption would extend to the judiciary, praising the new Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija, for taking a firm stance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe don\u2019t want corruption in the courts. The new Chief Justice is very active on that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The President also dismissed criticism from sections of the media and opposition figures who claim that Uganda has not changed over the last 40 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou have been hearing people say that the NRM has done nothing in the last 40 years,\u201d President Museveni said, referencing a newspaper headline that read \u2018No change for 40 years.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n To counter such claims,President Museveni presented what he described as five phases of Uganda\u2019s economic recovery and transformation since 1986.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These include minimum economic recovery after years of instability, expansion of the small colonial economy, diversification and value addition, and the current transition into a knowledge economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He showcased video footage highlighting four key sectors he said define Uganda\u2019s modern economy: commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The films featured large-scale sugarcane plantations, coffee and cocoa farms, palm oil estates, livestock projects, and major industrial parks, including Namanve, Mbale-Sino, Kapeka, and Mukono\u2013Mbalala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s why somebody told me that when you go to the supermarkets now, 65 percent of the products are made in Uganda. In the past, it was 100 percent imported,\u201d President Museveni said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also reflected on Uganda\u2019s troubled past, recalling the 1972 expulsion of Asians by former president Idi Amin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt that time, there were only about 4,000 properties owned by Asians in the whole of Uganda. Now we have millions of properties owned by Ugandans,\u201d he said, questioning the rationale behind Amin\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On industrialisation, President Museveni cited the progress of the Kiira Motors project, noting that locally assembled vehicles had recently completed a return journey to South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, congratulated President Museveni on his re-election, describing the 40-year journey of the NRM as transformative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToday\u2019s commemoration is a reflection on four decades that have profoundly reshaped the destiny of our nation,\u201d Hon. Babalanda said, thanking God for President Museveni\u2019s leadership and resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She said the election victory reflected continued public confidence in President Museveni and the NRM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow that the elections are behind us, we face the greater responsibility of building Uganda. Let us move forward in unity, mutual respect, and shared national purpose,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the ceremony, the government awarded national medals to 33 distinguished Ugandans in recognition of their contributions to the liberation struggle and national development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n January 26 marks the day in 1986 when National Resistance Army fighters captured Kampala, ending the rule of the UNLA junta led by the late Gen Tito Okello Lutwa. President Museveni, who led the NRA, was subsequently sworn in as Uganda\u2019s ninth President.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The event was attended by Vice President, H.E Jessica Alupo, Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among, Chief Justice, His Lordship Flavian Zeija, Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, senior NRM leaders, ministers, service chiefs, diplomats, religious and cultural leaders, and former national leaders, including Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, Ruhakana Rugunda, Amama Mbabazi, and Kintu Musoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diplomats, senior government officials, security chiefs, party leaders, and members of the public attended the ceremony. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday presided over the 40th Liberation Anniversary of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).The historic celebrations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16349,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/her7.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2607,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/vote-nrm-for-its-archievement-and-not-change-museveni\/","url_meta":{"origin":16348,"position":0},"title":"VOTE NRM FOR ITS ACHIEVEMENTS AND NOT CHANGE -MUSEVENI","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"January 8, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"President Yoweri Museveni called upon Ugandans to vote the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party that has a clear ideology intended to continue transforming Uganda. According to Museveni, politics and leadership isn\u2019t all about singing, rather about seeing the nation develop by boosting the economy, making sure that citizens are safe\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/musev.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/musev.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/musev.jpg 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9049,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/empower-ugandans-to-earn-income-dont-give-out-handouts-president-museveni-tells-nrm-mps\/","url_meta":{"origin":16348,"position":1},"title":"Empower Ugandans to earn income ,don’t give out handouts President Museveni tells NRM MPs","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"May 29, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Our Reporters in Kyankwanzi President Yoweri Museveni has told the members of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary caucus who are attending a 10 day retreat at the National Army leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi- that they should desist from the habit of giving their constituents money which has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National Development"","block_context":{"text":"National Development","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-development\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/FxPfq0lWwAE-hya.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/FxPfq0lWwAE-hya.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/FxPfq0lWwAE-hya.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/FxPfq0lWwAE-hya.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/FxPfq0lWwAE-hya.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15233,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/museveni-tasks-nrm-delegates-to-fight-corruption-at-local-government-level-monitor-delivery-of-govt-services\/","url_meta":{"origin":16348,"position":2},"title":"Museveni Tasks NRM Delegates To Fight Corruption At Local Government level, Monitor Delivery Of Govt Services","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"August 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"President Yoweri Museveni has tasked all National Resistance Movement (NRM) delegates to play a leading role in the fight against corruption at the local government level and ensuring that government services reach the people. Museveni was addressing delegates of the NRM Special Interest Groups (SIGs) at Kololo Independence Grounds on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DSC03967.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DSC03967.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DSC03967.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DSC03967.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11858,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/nrm-party-registers-18-3m-voters-museveni-meets-cec\/","url_meta":{"origin":16348,"position":3},"title":"NRM Party Registers 18.3M Voters, Museveni Meets CEC","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"April 14, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is also the National Chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has today held a meeting with the party\u2019s Central Executive Committee (CEC) members at State House Entebbe. This has been revealed by the Presidential Press Unit (PPU). \u201cThe President and the CEC members discussed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Party Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Party Politics","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/party-politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot_20240411_212608_Gmail.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot_20240411_212608_Gmail.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot_20240411_212608_Gmail.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot_20240411_212608_Gmail.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot_20240411_212608_Gmail.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8207,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/museveni-highlights-nine-tasks-to-achieve-strategic-goals\/","url_meta":{"origin":16348,"position":4},"title":"Museveni highlights nine tasks to achieve strategic goals","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"February 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"President Museveni has said Uganda is more united than ever because of the correct ideology of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Government. The ideology, according to the President includes the four (4) core principles of; Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Socio-Economic Transformation and Democracy. \u201cThe correct principles of the NRM, united our people\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/42nd-Tarehe-Sita-Anniiversary-Kakyeka-stadium-Mbarara-6th-Feb-2023-Gen-Museveni-others-receive-medals-56-scaled-2.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/42nd-Tarehe-Sita-Anniiversary-Kakyeka-stadium-Mbarara-6th-Feb-2023-Gen-Museveni-others-receive-medals-56-scaled-2.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/42nd-Tarehe-Sita-Anniiversary-Kakyeka-stadium-Mbarara-6th-Feb-2023-Gen-Museveni-others-receive-medals-56-scaled-2.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/42nd-Tarehe-Sita-Anniiversary-Kakyeka-stadium-Mbarara-6th-Feb-2023-Gen-Museveni-others-receive-medals-56-scaled-2.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/42nd-Tarehe-Sita-Anniiversary-Kakyeka-stadium-Mbarara-6th-Feb-2023-Gen-Museveni-others-receive-medals-56-scaled-2.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12366,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/president-museveni-tells-cabinet-ministers-and-accounting-officers-to-rally-ugandans-for-socio-economic-transformation-in-four-key-sectors\/","url_meta":{"origin":16348,"position":5},"title":"President Museveni Tells Cabinet Ministers And Accounting officers To Rally Ugandans For Socio-Economic Transformation In Four Key Sectors\u00a0","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"July 14, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Uganda's automaker Kiira Motors provided shuttle services during the week long retreat at Kyankwanzi President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has told his cabinet members and accounting officers to rally Ugandans for socio-economic transformation by participating in four key sectors which are , commercial agriculture , ICT , Tourism and services to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National Development"","block_context":{"text":"National Development","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-development\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/mu.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/mu.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/mu.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/mu.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/mu.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0aOV-4fG","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16348"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16348\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16357,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16348\/revisions\/16357"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/her3-683x1024.jpg\")
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Supporters filled Kololo as patriotic songs and revolutionary messages dominated the day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"