Eronda
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
- 230
- 190
More than 350 newly elected Members of Parliament from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party converged yesterday for a week-long induction at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.
They are expected to chart a way forward for the next five-year term for President Museveni’s government.
The group, which comprises majority first-time MPs, joined by other 40 odd Independent counterparts, will be treated to a variety of topics presented by government officials, and private sector players, led by President Museveni.
The retreat will focus on the broad theme of aligning the NRM leaders on protecting the gains and making a qualitative leap to the higher middle-income status society. The party officials say the theme is timely and speaks to the party direction of transforming the livelihoods of Ugandans.
The topics will centre on the economy, party ideology, defence and security, media and communication, fundamental change, and managing expectations of the masses.
The programme seen by the Monitor indicates President Museveni will deliver a keynote address tomorrow, based on the theme of the retreat.
Mr Museveni was in January this year declared winner of the January 15 presidential election after he scored 71 percent of the total valid vote cast and will likely extend his tenure to 45 years by 2031.
Mr Museveni shot his way to power in 1986 following a five-year guerrilla war with its amphitheatre in the Luweero Triangle.
The retreat comes ahead of preparations for the swearing-in of President Museveni on May 12 for his seventh elective term in office.
The new MPs will take oath between May 14 and 15, and subsequently elect a Speaker of the 12th Parliament among them.
The new government is racing towards achieving Uganda's tenfold growth strategy, a transformative economic plan aiming to expand the country’s GDP from roughly $50 billion (Shs187.1 trillion) in 2023 to $500 billion (Shs1,871.6 trillion) by 2040.
The strategy focuses on four key ATMS sectors—Agro-industrialization, Tourism, Mineral development, and Science/Technology innovation—to accelerate growth and since its launch the government has been budgeting putting these thematic areas in focus.
The new MPs are also expected to implement the projected Shs84.2 trillion budget for the Financial Year 2026/2027, up from the Shs72.1 trillion for the current FY 2025/2026.
The government has already prepared a raft of tax proposals that will be decided by the current Parliament to enable the government to shoulder 52 percent of the budget and minimise domestic and external borrowing.
The proposed taxes are expected to receive opposition from the public since they are likely to push the cost of living higher, and not helped by poor service delivery record, and rampant corruption which drains Shs10 trillion from the economy annually.
Mr Emmanuel Dombo, the NRM party spokesperson, told the Monitor the party would use the retreat to induct and guide the new MPs on the direction the party plans to walk.
“We shall guide them to appreciate the path of protecting the gains and set a foundation for taking the country to a high middle income status through supporting the implementation of the NRM manifesto, monitor government programmes, help the government in setting priorities, and building party cohesion,” he said.
Besides the laid down programme, Mr Dombo said they expect members to raise some issues that will be handled swiftly.
Before the President’s address, other presenters will include Col Rukogota Okei, the director of NALI, who will present a paper titled, Unpacking the fundamentals of “ways of thinking” and “mind-set change,” as critical precursors for attaining a higher middle-income status society.
The Parliament leadership led by the Speaker Anita Among, her deputy Thomas Tayebwa, and the Accounting Officer Adolf Mwesige will spend the better half of the third day on taking the new MPS through the legislation process and key public expectations.
Mr Tayebwa is expected to unpack the dynamics of the whipping system, causes of the high attrition rate and its strategic implication for the party.
The House has also invited three key former legislators, who include Ms Rosemary Seninde, with 20 years of experience in the House, Mr Dombo (20 years), and the party deputy Secretary General, Ms Namayanja Rose Nsereko, with 15 years.
The NRM party has since 1996 enjoyed the majority numbers in Parliament which has enabled them to have most of their decisions passed despite receiving spirited opposition.,
Dr Juma Kakuba Sultan, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Kyambogo University, says President Museveni is simply going to use the retreat to inform the members what he wants, and not discussing the real issues facing the population.
“Our democracy is not ideal despite us being in a multiparty society. In my opinion, they are just going to be told what they must do and not to discuss issues affecting the masses, given the growing restriction of the civic space we have witnessed in Uganda…,” he said.
The government considers as successful its implementation of wealth creation programmes that include the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, whose implementations have been supported by the Parliament,
Gen Salim Saleh, the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) coordinator, and Local Governments Minister Raphael Magyezi, will also take the new legislators through key areas they should ensure the programmes serve longer.
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), is also expected to present the geostrategic politics and overall national defence, unveiling the historical mission and metamorphosis of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the national interests of Uganda within the context of the African continent.
The party parliamentary Caucus comes at a critical time when the question of its official candidate for the position of Speaker is brewing, with at least four NRM MPs, one Independent NRM leaning and one opposition have declared their interest in vying for the position.
They are incumbent Anita Among, Aringa South MP Alioni Yorke Odria (NRM), Mbale City Woman MP-elect Lydia Wanyoto (NRM), and Dr Florence Akiiki (NRM). Bukono South legislator and Lands State Minister Persis Namuganza (Independent), with Laro-Pecce Division MP-lect and Justice and Constitutional Minister Norbert Mao, joining the race.
Ms Namuganza yesterday told Daily Monitor that she will raise the matter concerning the alleged Central Executive Committee (CEC) endorsement of the two incumbents.
But Mr Dombo said this matter is not on the official programme but it will be handled once it comes up.
“Since the matter has been decided by CEC we shall discuss it if it is raised or the party National Chairman may talk about it but for now that is the official programme,” he said.
Source: Daily Monitor.
They are expected to chart a way forward for the next five-year term for President Museveni’s government.
The group, which comprises majority first-time MPs, joined by other 40 odd Independent counterparts, will be treated to a variety of topics presented by government officials, and private sector players, led by President Museveni.
The retreat will focus on the broad theme of aligning the NRM leaders on protecting the gains and making a qualitative leap to the higher middle-income status society. The party officials say the theme is timely and speaks to the party direction of transforming the livelihoods of Ugandans.
The topics will centre on the economy, party ideology, defence and security, media and communication, fundamental change, and managing expectations of the masses.
The programme seen by the Monitor indicates President Museveni will deliver a keynote address tomorrow, based on the theme of the retreat.
Mr Museveni was in January this year declared winner of the January 15 presidential election after he scored 71 percent of the total valid vote cast and will likely extend his tenure to 45 years by 2031.
Mr Museveni shot his way to power in 1986 following a five-year guerrilla war with its amphitheatre in the Luweero Triangle.
The retreat comes ahead of preparations for the swearing-in of President Museveni on May 12 for his seventh elective term in office.
The new MPs will take oath between May 14 and 15, and subsequently elect a Speaker of the 12th Parliament among them.
The new government is racing towards achieving Uganda's tenfold growth strategy, a transformative economic plan aiming to expand the country’s GDP from roughly $50 billion (Shs187.1 trillion) in 2023 to $500 billion (Shs1,871.6 trillion) by 2040.
The strategy focuses on four key ATMS sectors—Agro-industrialization, Tourism, Mineral development, and Science/Technology innovation—to accelerate growth and since its launch the government has been budgeting putting these thematic areas in focus.
The new MPs are also expected to implement the projected Shs84.2 trillion budget for the Financial Year 2026/2027, up from the Shs72.1 trillion for the current FY 2025/2026.
The government has already prepared a raft of tax proposals that will be decided by the current Parliament to enable the government to shoulder 52 percent of the budget and minimise domestic and external borrowing.
The proposed taxes are expected to receive opposition from the public since they are likely to push the cost of living higher, and not helped by poor service delivery record, and rampant corruption which drains Shs10 trillion from the economy annually.
Mr Emmanuel Dombo, the NRM party spokesperson, told the Monitor the party would use the retreat to induct and guide the new MPs on the direction the party plans to walk.
“We shall guide them to appreciate the path of protecting the gains and set a foundation for taking the country to a high middle income status through supporting the implementation of the NRM manifesto, monitor government programmes, help the government in setting priorities, and building party cohesion,” he said.
Besides the laid down programme, Mr Dombo said they expect members to raise some issues that will be handled swiftly.
Before the President’s address, other presenters will include Col Rukogota Okei, the director of NALI, who will present a paper titled, Unpacking the fundamentals of “ways of thinking” and “mind-set change,” as critical precursors for attaining a higher middle-income status society.
The Parliament leadership led by the Speaker Anita Among, her deputy Thomas Tayebwa, and the Accounting Officer Adolf Mwesige will spend the better half of the third day on taking the new MPS through the legislation process and key public expectations.
Mr Tayebwa is expected to unpack the dynamics of the whipping system, causes of the high attrition rate and its strategic implication for the party.
The House has also invited three key former legislators, who include Ms Rosemary Seninde, with 20 years of experience in the House, Mr Dombo (20 years), and the party deputy Secretary General, Ms Namayanja Rose Nsereko, with 15 years.
The NRM party has since 1996 enjoyed the majority numbers in Parliament which has enabled them to have most of their decisions passed despite receiving spirited opposition.,
Dr Juma Kakuba Sultan, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Kyambogo University, says President Museveni is simply going to use the retreat to inform the members what he wants, and not discussing the real issues facing the population.
“Our democracy is not ideal despite us being in a multiparty society. In my opinion, they are just going to be told what they must do and not to discuss issues affecting the masses, given the growing restriction of the civic space we have witnessed in Uganda…,” he said.
The government considers as successful its implementation of wealth creation programmes that include the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, whose implementations have been supported by the Parliament,
Gen Salim Saleh, the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) coordinator, and Local Governments Minister Raphael Magyezi, will also take the new legislators through key areas they should ensure the programmes serve longer.
Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), is also expected to present the geostrategic politics and overall national defence, unveiling the historical mission and metamorphosis of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the national interests of Uganda within the context of the African continent.
The party parliamentary Caucus comes at a critical time when the question of its official candidate for the position of Speaker is brewing, with at least four NRM MPs, one Independent NRM leaning and one opposition have declared their interest in vying for the position.
They are incumbent Anita Among, Aringa South MP Alioni Yorke Odria (NRM), Mbale City Woman MP-elect Lydia Wanyoto (NRM), and Dr Florence Akiiki (NRM). Bukono South legislator and Lands State Minister Persis Namuganza (Independent), with Laro-Pecce Division MP-lect and Justice and Constitutional Minister Norbert Mao, joining the race.
Ms Namuganza yesterday told Daily Monitor that she will raise the matter concerning the alleged Central Executive Committee (CEC) endorsement of the two incumbents.
But Mr Dombo said this matter is not on the official programme but it will be handled once it comes up.
“Since the matter has been decided by CEC we shall discuss it if it is raised or the party National Chairman may talk about it but for now that is the official programme,” he said.
Source: Daily Monitor.
