KAMPALA, Uganda – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the National Chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), officially closed the party’s National Delegates Conference at Kololo Independence Grounds on Thursday, delivering a message focused on unity, discipline, and integrity.
“Reject the corruption that the young people are complaining about. Reject it. That is part of the resistance,” said Museveni, who was just endorsed as the NRM’s flagbearer for the 2026 general elections. “Don’t annoy our members with injustice and corruption. When you do that, you divide us.”
He thanked delegates for completing what he called a “huge exercise” that began with branch-level elections in May. He noted the party has more than 20 million members, with 18.5 million registered voters, and cautioned leaders not to “play around with” such a vast base of support.
“Those who make mistakes, who do things carelessly, are really interfering with the work,” Museveni warned. “These 20 million members of the NRM want justice, fairness, and the truth. They don’t want lies, they don’t want favoritism, they don’t want corruption.”
Museveni pledged that all allegations of corruption would be investigated, stating, “Somebody is accused of corruption—you don’t condemn them until the facts come out. But all these cases will be investigated, and action will be taken.” He stressed that the use of money and corruption “must be condemned,” adding that the party may even take legal action in some cases.
The president commended young party members for their “spirit of resistance against wrongs.” He urged them to do so constructively, drawing a historical parallel to the NRM’s origins, when he said his group repeatedly warned the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) about its faults before resorting to armed struggle.
Museveni also instructed the party’s 2.4 million leaders to act as monitors against crime and police complacency. “Don’t allow the police to sit on crime,” he told the leaders, insisting that law enforcement must be handled at the police and community level, not by the army.
On development, Museveni highlighted the distinction between collective infrastructure and household wealth creation. He promoted the Parish Development Model (PDM), which provides each parish with 100 million Ugandan shillings annually.
In a major announcement, Museveni vowed to abolish school fees in government schools in the coming term. “I want to totally abolish school fees in government schools,” he said, explaining that this measure is necessary to prevent children from dropping out. He also emphasized the importance of ensuring reliable drugs in hospitals and providing safe water sources for every village.
NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong presented the final list of the CEC members and special league leaders.
For the position of Second National Vice Chairperson (Female), Anita Among was elected with 11,680 votes (92%), defeating incumbent Rebecca Kadaga, who polled 902 votes (7.2%).
Other notable results include:
- NRM Vice Chairperson, Northern Region: Obua Dennis Hamson with 3,591 votes (67.4%)
- NRM Vice Chairperson, Karamoja Region: Loki John Baptist with 3,694 votes (81.1%)
- NRM Vice Chairperson, Central (Buganda) Region: Kyeyune Haruna Kasolo with 4,194 votes (50.3%)
- NRM Vice Chairperson, Kampala Region: Salim Saad Uhuru with 2,411 votes (63.2%)
- NRM Vice Chairperson, Eastern Region: Calvin David Echodu with 5,211 votes (99.5%)
- NRM Vice Chairperson, Western Region: Asiimwe Jonard with 4,044 votes (58.9%)
Museveni congratulated the winners and encouraged unity, promising to investigate any “games” that may have been played during the elections.
The conference also hosted delegations from fraternal parties across the continent. Secretary General Hassan Omar of Kenya’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) congratulated Museveni on his re-election as party chairman and presidential candidate, describing the NRM as a “beacon of political stability” and expressing confidence in a 2026 victory.
The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) delegation, led by Secretary General Wellars Gasamagera, described the NRM and RPF as “brothers and sisters in struggle,” united by a shared history and commitment to Pan-Africanism.
Deputy Secretary General Nomvula Mokonyane of South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) drew parallels between Uganda’s struggles and South Africa’s fight against neocolonialism. She hailed Museveni’s “steadfastness in defending Uganda’s sovereignty” as an inspiration.
Delegations from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Burundi’s CNDD-FDD, and the Sahrawi Republic also attended, reaffirming their solidarity with the NRM and its role in Pan-African unity.
