The dust from the week-long NRM MPs retreat in Kyankwanzi has finally settled. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni officially wrapped up the session on April 14, 2026, pushing a message that felt both like a history lesson and a stern warning to his own party. The retreat, which kicked off on April 7, was focused on aligning leaders with the push for a middle-income society, but the atmosphere at the closing felt heavy with the President’s insistence on accountability.
Before the final speeches, there was a quiet moment at the Ngoma State Lodge. The President walked the MPs through his cattle fields, the smell of damp earth and dry grass hanging in the air as they stood near the bridge between the Mayanja and Kafu rivers. It was a strategic walk—he reminded them that this land wasn’t just a random spot; it was tied to the 1984 liberation struggle. He spoke about trekking on foot to link up with Gen. Salim Saleh’s forces, a reminder of the sacrifice he feels is currently missing in some corners of modern politics.
Transitioning back to the present, Museveni didn’t hold back on the economy. He talked about his own roots in Ntungamo, where families once lived just for their own stomachs—producing food but never actually earning money. “Our message has always been that our people must enter the money economy,” he kept saying, perhaps a bit frustrated that it’s still a conversation they need to have. He pointed to the cattle corridor, from Isingiro to Masindi, as proof that mindsets can change if people just listen to the advice on dairy farming and pasture improvement.
But the tone shifted sharply when the topic turned to corruption. He wasn’t subtle about it.
“I do not want to hear of corruption in Parliament,” Museveni warned. He claimed he had heard reports of people demanding kickbacks just to pass budgets. It sounded like he had enough of the excuses. He made it clear that if bribery is how someone lands a position, they’ll be disqualified—full stop. It’s an ambitious goal, given the systemic nature of the issue, but he insisted it’s something that will “kill Uganda” if not stopped.
Vice President Jessica Alupo and Secretary General Richard Todwong tried to smooth the edges, focusing on the resolutions and the party’s victory in the 2026 elections. Todwong read through a list of promises: discipline, accountability, and supporting the National Development Plan IV. It all sounded very official, though whether these pledges turn into actual shifts in behavior remains to be seen—or maybe it’s just the usual cycle of political posturing.
Prof. Wilber Manyisa Ahebwa chimed in, thanking the President for his sacrifices while nodding toward the tea and cattle interests of Nakaseke. It was a standard closing, yet one couldn’t help but notice the President’s focus remained on the ground, not the ceremony. He left the room, leaving the MPs to figure out how to translate his warnings into the actual work of their constituencies. We’ll see if it sticks.