National Resistance Movement (NRM) National Treasurer Amb. Barbara Nekesa has said the party’s ongoing leaders’ retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi has successfully achieved its core objectives, citing strong participation and alignment among Members of Parliament.
Speaking on Sunday, Nekesa noted that the engagement which had so far run for six days had registered “tremendous success,” particularly in orienting legislators and harmonizing their priorities with the NRM Manifesto for 2026–2031.
“We have had various submissions from ministries, departments and agencies, and these have been well received by Members of Parliament,” she said, adding that the retreat was designed not only to orient leaders but also to align their thinking and planning with the party’s long-term agenda.
Nekesa revealed that legislators had strongly endorsed the initiative and proposed that such retreats be institutionalized on an annual basis. According to her, regular engagements would help deepen understanding of party policies, assess government performance, and strengthen service delivery to Ugandans.
She emphasized the importance of internal reflection within the party as it marks four decades of leadership, noting that the NRM must continue embracing self-assessment to sustain its vision of steering Uganda toward long-term prosperity.
Referencing President Yoweri Museveni’s message, Nekesa said the central focus of the retreat was on transforming household incomes as the foundation for Uganda’s long-term socio-economic progress. She noted that the President emphasized the need for leaders to deliberately plan and implement interventions that directly raise the earnings of ordinary citizens.
According to Nekesa, the President underscored the importance of boosting productivity in key sectors such as agriculture, industry and services, urging leaders to prioritize value addition, improved production methods and efficient resource utilization as key drivers of economic growth.
She added that Museveni called on Members of Parliament to align all government programmes and policies toward expanding incomes at the household level, stressing that this would ultimately translate into improved livelihoods and reduced poverty among Ugandans. He also challenged leaders to remain focused and disciplined in execution, with emphasis on consistency and close monitoring of results.
Nekesa explained that the President’s message serves as a guiding framework for both the party’s manifesto and the government agenda, urging leaders to ensure that every intervention contributes to tangible improvements in the welfare of wananchi.
The National Treasurer also commended MPs for maintaining discipline and unity throughout the sessions, describing the atmosphere as cordial and family-like, and praised facilitators for delivering insightful presentations that enriched discussions.
Looking ahead, Nekesa said participants will visit the President’s farm in Ngoma on Tuesday, where resolutions from the retreat will be presented and adopted, marking the climax of the deliberations.
She added that the retreat has been organized through a coordinated effort involving the NRM Secretariat, the NALI administration, as well as media and other service providers to ensure its smooth execution.
The retreat will conclude on Wednesday, with some MPs expected to join the President for activities at a shooting range before departure.
Nekesa described the experience as both educative and enjoyable, thanking participants for their commitment and active engagement throughout the programme.
