President Yoweri Museveni has warned members of parliament against engaging in corruption.
Speaking at while closing the 2026 NRM Members of Parliament retreat held at the National Leadership Institute -NALI in Kyankwanzi, Museveni called on leaders to reject corruption and instead actively participate in wealth creation initiatives.
“I do not want to hear of corruption in Parliament,” he said. “If there is corruption in Parliament, how will you control others? You are the oversight body!”
hHe warned that corruption poses a serious threat to national development.“It will kill Uganda, it is suicide and must not be tolerated,” he stressed.
Museveni further denounced MPs’ soliciting bribes to approve budgets. “I have heard that some people demand money before passing budgets, he said. “One official refused and reported the matter. This must stop!”
He cautioned that anyone found engaging in bribery for positions would be disqualified. “If we hear that you are giving bribes to get office, you will be disqualified,” he warned.
On the Parish Development Model, he urged proper utilization of funds. “This money we are sending to the people can change their lives if used properly,” he said, and also advised citizens to avoid unnecessary borrowing. “Do not rush to money lenders or banks because of pressure. Use the resources you have wisely.”
The week-long retreat, which started on April 7, took place under the theme: “Aligning the NRM leadership towards protecting the gains and making a bold, qualitative leap towards a higher middle-income status society.”
Before the closure of the retreat, Museveni hosted the MPs at Ngoma State Lodge and Farm, where he led them on a tour of the farm. The group walked through the cattle fields and proceeded to the bridge between River Mayanja and River Kafu, an area the President described as historically significant in Uganda’s liberation struggle.
Speaking during the final session, Museveni emphasized the historical and strategic importance of Kyankwanzi. He recalled that on February 20, 1984, the National Resistance Army mobile brigade, led by Gen. Caleb Akandwanaho aka Salim Saleh, attacked and overran Masindi Barracks after trekking for days.
“They had walked for many miles and attacked Masindi Barracks,” Museveni narrated. “We were monitoring by radio, and I intercepted communications from Obote’s forces saying they had been attacked and overrun.”
He added that he immediately set off on foot to link up with the fighters. “I left at about 10:00am and walked. We slept near a place nearby and later crossed into Kyankwanzi, where we linked up with Saleh’s forces,” he noted.
He revealed that after the war, he decided to secure the land for national purposes.“After the war, I said I will buy this land for the movement because it was a good area. Eventually, the government acquired it, and that is why we are here today.”
Museveni noted that the area’s geography, surrounded by rivers such as Mayanja and Kafu, makes it ideal for reflection and ideological orientation. On his economic message, Museveni said people must stop working for only subsistence living.
Museveni highlighted progress in the cattle corridor, which stretches from Isingiro through Kazo, Kiruhura, Sembabule, Gomba, Kyankwanzi, Nakasongola, and Masindi.
“When we came into government in 1986, we intensified this message,” he said. “We encouraged smallholder farmers to adopt dairy farming and other income-generating activities.”
The President observed that the strategy has yielded visible results.“The cattle corridor has transformed because people changed their mindset and followed the message,” Museveni said.
He cited farmer John Matongo as one of the beneficiaries.“He was outside the money economy, but now he has transformed and became a wealthy man,” he noted.
However, he urged farmers to embrace pasture improvement for increased productivity.“If you plant improved pasture on one square mile, you can keep up to 300 cows,” he advised. Museveni also pointed to efforts to improve infrastructure in the area.“We shall continue working on the roads connecting Luwero, Ngoma, and Kyankwanzi to improve accessibility,” he said.
On her part, the Vice President, Jessica Alupo commended the Members of Parliament-elect for completing the retreat, describing it as a key platform for strengthening ideological grounding and leadership discipline.She said the Kyankwanzi training was essential in aligning leaders with the Movement’s long-term vision of socio-economic transformation.
“We appreciate the commitment shown by the MPs throughout this retreat,” Alupo said. “It is important that leaders remain grounded in the ideology of the Movement as they serve the people.”
She urged the legislators to translate the knowledge gained into practical service delivery and improved accountability at all levels.
The Secretary General of the NRM, Richard Todwong, presented the official resolutions of the retreat on behalf of the NRM Members of Parliament and party-leaning Independents.
“We gathered here as NRM Members of Parliament-elect and NRM-leaning Independents to reflect on our role in protecting the gains of the revolution and advancing Uganda towards a higher middle-income status,” Todwong said, addith that the retreat followed NRM’s electoral victory in the 2026 elections.