Kyankwanzi, Uganda: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has advised newly elected National Resistance Movement (NRM) Members of Parliament to cut down on foreign travel and refocus their efforts on grassroots engagement to drive rural transformation.
Speaking during a campfire session at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi on Monday evening, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni emphasised that effective leadership begins with direct connection to constituents.
“You need to go household by household and know your people—how many are in the money economy and how many are still outside,” Museveni said.
He cautioned legislators against excessive participation in parliamentary committee work and international benchmarking trips, arguing that such engagements often detach leaders from the realities on the ground.
“If you benchmark too much outside, you disconnect yourself from your constituents,” he added, urging MPs to dedicate more time to fieldwork within their constituencies.
The President further warned MPs against using personal resources or accumulating debt to support constituents, advising them instead to utilise existing government programmes.
“Do not use your money or go into debts. What I am telling you is what I did,” he said, referencing his early political mobilisation experience in the 1960s.
Museveni outlined key economic activities suitable for rural transformation, including coffee growing, fruit farming, dairy, poultry, piggery, and fish farming, stressing that consistent mobilisation can transition households into the money economy.
He revealed that in his home area, approximately 1,700 out of 2,300 households have already shifted to income-generating activities due to sustained engagement.
The President also highlighted the need for targeted infrastructure investments, particularly in water systems for livestock in arid regions such as Karamoja. “Where leaders are actively involved, things move,” he noted.
Vice President Jessica Alupo commended the President’s continued guidance on socio-economic transformation, saying it remains central to improving livelihoods.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa urged MPs to support the President’s agenda, cautioning against confrontational politics. “Parliament should work in complementarity with the Executive to deliver national development,” Tayebwa said.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja echoed the call for unity, urging legislators to back government policies presented before Parliament.
Museveni concluded by urging MPs to prioritise constituency engagement and avoid over-reliance on bureaucratic processes at the expense of service delivery. “If we work together and focus on the people, we shall succeed,” he said.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
