President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, also the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Presidential flagbearer for 2026 elections, has said many political conflicts stem from leaders who treat politics as a personal job rather than a service to the people.
The President made the remarks today while addressing a campaign rally at Kaliro Town Council Playground in Lyantonde, where he presented the NRM Manifesto for 2026–2031.
“Politics should never be your livelihood. If you join politics because of money, you are doing the country a disservice. Separate your survival from leadership. With money or without money, you must serve.”
Drawing from his own experience during the liberation struggle, the President reminded the supporters that service, not personal gain, was the foundation of the NRM.
“Who was paying us when we were in the bush? No one. Politics is about the aims of the population and how you relate with them,”he said.
President Museveni also noted that peace remains the NRM’s greatest contribution to Uganda, noting that it did not come by accident but through rejecting sectarian politics and building strong national institutions.
“Peace is not accidental. It came because we rejected the politics of division and built a strong party and strong institutions such as the army, police, judiciary and that is how Uganda became peaceful,” he said.
He echoed remarks earlier made by NRM elder Mzee Mathew Rukikaire, who emphasized unity and inclusiveness within the party.
“NRM welcomes everyone , women, children, youth because everyone is important,” the President said.
Addressing concerns about election-related violence, President Museveni issued a firm warning to those intending to cause chaos.
“I have heard that there are people planning to riot during elections. They should not dare.No one should fear voting or staying home. No one will disrupt Uganda’s peace,”he said.
The President added that peace has allowed generations to grow, work and prosper.
“Because of peace, someone was born 40 years ago, raised children, and we are now enjoying the fruits of stability,” he said.
On infrastructure, the President confirmed that road construction works had already begun on key routes in the region, including Mubende–Kabamba–Nkonji–Ntutsi–Sembabule, with plans to work on Ntutsi–Kasagama–Lyantonde and Lyantonde–Rwamahwa–Rakai.
“There is a contractor on the ground and the work has started,” he assured residents.
President Museveni further said wealth creation remains widely misunderstood, stressing that development alone does not automatically lift people out of poverty.
“You can have development like in Kampala, but still find poor people in the ghettos.Wealth comes from four sectors,” he explained.
He outlined the sectors as commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services such as transport and hotels, and ICT.
To support household wealth, the President revisited the four-acre model, which he introduced in the 1996 NRM manifesto.
“One acre for coffee, one for fruits, one for pasture, one for food. In the backyard you keep poultry or pigs, and near wetlands you do fish farming.I calculated this carefully. If you do even one of these, you cannot go wrong,” he stated.
President Museveni cited successful farmers, including Mr. George Matongo from Ngoma, who abandoned subsistence farming for commercial agriculture.
“He did only one activity out of seven and became rich.That shows wealth creation is possible,” he said.
President Museveni added that government programs such as Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga were designed to support this transformation, with plans to extend financing to leaders, unemployed graduates, religious and cultural leaders.
Addressing unemployment, President Museveni dismissed the notion that jobs can only come from the government.
“The total government jobs are only about 480,000, yet Uganda now has 50 million people.So how can everyone be employed by the government?” he inquired.
“Mbale Industrial Park alone has over 75 factories,” he said, noting that factories across the country now employ about 1.3 million Ugandans, nearly three times the number of government employees.
The President also stressed the importance of markets, saying Uganda now produces more than it consumes.
“We produce 5.3 billion litres of milk, but consume only about 800 million,” he said.
“So politics is about the future. A leader must understand where the markets will be.”
President Museveni concluded by reaffirming his commitment to free education and skills training, noting that resistance by some school administrators had slowed implementation in the past.
“That is why I introduced Presidential Skilling Hubs.After just six months of training, you can see that these young people are producing things we used to import.”
One beneficiary of the skilling hub project, Mr. Aron Mugume, said he dropped out of school in Senior Four but enrolled at the Masaka Presidential Skilling Hub, where he studied construction free of charge.
“After graduation, I started working immediately and now I employ three people,” Mugume said.
Another beneficiary, Ms. Noreen Naiga, said she dropped out in Senior Two and trained in hairdressing at the same hub.
“I started earning Shs15,000 per day, then Shs20,000. Today I own a salon, pay my rent, support my mother, and employ three workers.”
The Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson (Female), Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, described Lyantonde District as one of Uganda’s historical areas whose people played a critical role in ensuring national stability.
She said Lyantonde’s contribution to peace and stability should continue to be recognised through sustained government support.
“Lyantonde is one of the historical districts. We know what the people here went through for this government to become stable, and this history must be respected,” said Rt. Hon. Among.
Addressing land concerns, she said Ranch Number 7 in Kasagama, which hosts over 800 occupants, requires urgent attention following the transfer of its ownership to State House.
“These are people who have lived there for years. We must find a solution so that they are not chased away,” she said.
The Speaker further warned about increasing encroachment on the Mpumudde Forest Reserve, calling for decisive action to protect the environment.
She emphasised that addressing these issues aligns with the government’s broader commitment to peace, stability and inclusive development.
The NRM Chairperson for Lyantonde District, Mr. Ezra Mugenyi commended residents for maintaining peace and unity, saying stability has enabled government programmes to steadily transform livelihoods across the district.
Mr. Mugenyi said Lyantonde’s population now stands at 133,017, according to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, noting that the district continues to play a strategic role in national development.
“I want to thank the people of Lyantonde for remaining peaceful. Peace is what allows development to reach our communities,” Mr. Mugenyi said.
Reflecting on political support, he noted that the district delivered 74 per cent of the vote in the 2021 general elections, adding that local leaders are mobilising for even stronger support.
“In the last election, we gave the NRM 74 per cent. This time, we are pledging 85 per cent and above,” he said.
Mr. Mugenyi highlighted the impact of the Parish Development Model , revealing that Lyantonde’s 30 parishes have cumulatively received Shs10.7 billion, of which Shs9 billion (86.22 per cent) has already been disbursed.
So far, 9,218 households, representing 32.2 per cent of the district’s 28,627 households, have benefited from the programme.
Under the Emyooga initiative, the district has 18 SACCOs with 4,947 members, and the government has so far disbursed Shs840 million to support enterprise development.
Lyantonde currently has 50 government primary schools and 28 private primary schools, while the secondary education sector comprises seven government and eight private secondary schools.
Government secondary schools offer Universal Secondary Education (USE) and Universal Post-O-Level Education and Training, with a total enrolment of 3,558 learners.
While 27 of the 30 parishes host at least one government primary school, three parishes are still without one.
On the other hand, the district is benefiting from the construction of three Seed Secondary Schools, a move that will ensure all sub-counties have at least one government secondary school.
Out of Lyantonde’s eight sub-counties, one has a General Hospital while six have Health Centre IIIs, leaving one sub-county without a public health facility.
To address this, the government plans to upgrade Kabatema Health Centre II to Health Centre III in Kaliiro Rural Sub-County. The district also hosts Lyantonde General Hospital in Kabula Constituency.
Major water supply systems have been completed in Lyantonde, Kinuuka, Kasagama, Kaliiro and Kitazigorokwa, collectively serving tens of thousands of residents.
Future plans include the construction of piped water and sanitation systems in Lyakajura, Kabatema, Kiyinda and Mpumudde, further expanding access to clean and safe water.
Lyantonde District is now connected to the national electricity grid, with seven out of eight sub-counties electrified.
“In the next term, electricity will be extended to the remaining sub-county of Kaliro, so that the entire district is fully connected,” Mr. Mugenyi said.
Veteran politician and elder, Mzee Matthew Rukikaire called on residents of Kabula and Lyantonde to remain united and rally behind President Museveni, citing the area’s history of strong political support and its contribution to national stability.
The event was attended by NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) members, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, as well as thousands of supporters.
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