Kyankwanzi, Uganda: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Wednesday took Members of Parliament through a live shooting exercise at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, using the session to reinforce discipline, national defence, and issue a strong warning against corruption among leaders.
The exercise marked the final activity of the just-concluded NRM MPs retreat, which ran from April 7 to April 14, 2026, under the theme: “Aligning the NRM leadership towards protecting the gains and making a bold, qualitative leap towards a higher middle-income status society.”
President Museveni personally guided legislators on basic firearms handling, closely observing their participation and commending their performance. “I congratulate the participants. I can see some of them are veterans,” he said.
The President emphasised that Uganda’s security doctrine is rooted in the concept of a people’s army, where civilians receive basic military training and remain available as a reserve force in times of need.
“Ours is a people’s army. We encourage citizens to learn the science of arms so that in case of any threat, we can mobilise numbers for national defence,” Museveni said.
He explained that such systems enable even countries with smaller populations to maintain strong defence capabilities through continuous training and reservist mobilisation, citing Israel as an example.
“This is how you maximise defence. People train, go back to their normal lives, but remain ready,” he added.
Drawing from Uganda’s own history, Museveni referenced the mobilisation of Local Defence Units (LDUs) during past security challenges, underscoring the importance of preparedness and community involvement in national security.
Anti-corruption warning
Turning to governance, the President warned that corruption remains the biggest threat to Uganda’s transformation and urged MPs to take a firm stand against it. “The first thing you must do is to fight corruption. If you don’t, all these efforts will be for nothing,” he said.
Museveni cautioned legislators against engaging in bribery and vote-buying, describing the practice as harmful to democratic integrity and long-term national development.
“Do not bribe voters. You cannot give someone a small amount of money to decide leadership for five years. That is wrong,” he emphasised.
He further urged MPs to maintain financial discipline and avoid unsustainable borrowing, encouraging them to utilise government-backed systems such as SACCOs.
“A bankrupt leader should not be a leader. Stand on your own and work with the systems we have put in place,” he advised.
The President highlighted government efforts to support security personnel through welfare-focused initiatives, including education for soldiers’ children, scholarships, housing, and SACCOs like Wazalendo.
“We did not have much money for high salaries, but we focused on supporting soldiers through education, housing, and healthcare,” he noted.
As the retreat concluded, Museveni called on MPs to return to their constituencies with renewed commitment to service, integrity, and wealth creation.
Uganda’s transformation, he stressed, hinges on disciplined leadership, elimination of corruption, and empowering citizens to actively participate in the money economy. “I wish you good luck as you go back to serve your constituencies,” he said.
Meanwhile, NALI Director Col. Okei Rukogota thanked the President for inaugurating the institute’s shooting range, noting that it will enhance civilian training in basic defence skills.
“This is testimony that you have never been a dictator, because dictators cannot empower citizens with the means of defence,” Rukogota said.
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