Museveni Urges Cabinet Towards Socio-Economic Transformation at Kyankwanzi Retreat

President Yoweri Museveni has officially opened a 10-day Cabinet Induction Retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, urging newly appointed ministers and senior government officials to champion Uganda’s historical goal of socio-economic transformation. The retreat aims to equip leaders with the necessary tools and ideological clarity to transition the nation from subsistence farming to a prosperous, industrialized economy.

“Kyankwanzi is a place of sacrifice,” President Museveni reminded attendees, emphasizing that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) was founded on principles of selflessness and dedication to public service. He warned against ideological disorientation and personal ambition, stressing that public service must be guided by political education and a clear understanding of leadership’s purpose. The President noted a concerning decline in political awareness among leaders, asserting that effective leadership requires understanding how to uplift the populace.

Drawing parallels with historical economic models, President Museveni referenced Karl Marx’s analysis of societal evolution. He highlighted Uganda’s challenge in moving beyond pre-capitalist structures, criticizing the colonial-era economic model that focused on raw material exports. The president stressed the importance of local processing, packaging, and branding to capture greater value and create jobs.

“The purpose of leadership is to transform society. We must move our people from subsistence production into the money economy and build a modern society,” Museveni declared. He identified commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT as the key sectors for driving this transformation. Ministers were tasked with mobilizing citizens to embrace commercial production and wealth creation, with leadership success measured by tangible improvements in people’s livelihoods.

Vice President Jessica Alupo and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja pledged the cabinet’s commitment to fighting corruption and delivering on development targets, including achieving upper-middle-income status. The Head of Public Service, Lucy Nakyobe, echoed the President’s call to action, warning against complacency and urging ministers to lead with integrity and deliver concrete results.

This retreat is crucial for aligning the new cabinet’s work with Uganda’s development agenda for the 2026-2031 period.

Source: State House Uganda