President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who also serves as the National Chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), has pledged to lead Uganda into a new phase of economic transformation centered on value addition, if elected in 2026.
On Saturday, Museveni picked nomination forms to contest once again for the positions of NRM National Chairman and Presidential Flag Bearer ahead of the 2026 General Elections.
The forms were issued to him by the NRM Electoral Commission Chairman, Dr. Tanga Odoi, during a colourful event at the party headquarters in Kyadondo, Kampala.
The function was attended by top party officials, ministers, members of the Central Executive Committee (CEC), and thousands of enthusiastic supporters.
Accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, the President reaffirmed his commitment to economic transformation, highlighting the need for Uganda to shift from raw material exports to processed, high-value products.
“In this coming term, I will make sure that we really move into value addition like sugar production, coffee processing and other products,” Museveni said.
He noted that Uganda is already on the right development path, embracing a knowledge-based economy supported by advancements in science and innovation.
“The country is now on the right trajectory. We are embracing the knowledge economy based on science. You can see the vehicles that we are making here, the vaccines, computers and so on,” he remarked.
President Museveni said his decision to contest was strongly influenced by the overwhelming love and support he received from the NRM fraternity during his upcountry Parish Development Model (PDM) tours.
“I thank the NRM fraternity for the love and support you have shown me while I was moving around the country. It energized me to take up the mantle to lead the country for the next five years,” Museveni said.
As he outlined his vision for the next term, Museveni also committed to intensifying the fight against corruption to ensure efficient use of national resources.
The President warned against politics driven by personal interests and identity, urging leaders to focus on ideology and national development.
“NRM is a party based on issues, policies, and principles. I want to remind my NRM people that what we are engaged in is the politics of issues and policies. Avoid wasting time as individuals and focus on strengthening the party, and we move as a force,” he said.
Museveni called for patriotism and unity, urging leaders to love Africa “our motherland” and to serve beyond self-interest.
He also cautioned NRM district chairpersons to remain impartial in the upcoming internal elections. “Let the people elect the people they want,” he said.
NRM Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, welcomed the President and confirmed that Ugandans across the country had been urging him to seek another term.
“Many Ugandans from across the country had started to petition my office requesting the president to stand again,” Todwong said.
He reported strong party growth and preparedness ahead of the internal elections, saying, “I report to you that the party is growing. As of the last registration of members, the party grew to twenty million members… As we grow in numbers and strength, cohesion is very key for the party going forward.”
Dr. Tanga Odoi commended Museveni for personally picking the nomination forms and announced that the President will return for formal nomination on Saturday, July 5.