First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, has called on Ugandans, particularly the youth, to actively safeguard peace and stability as the country approaches the 2026 general elections.
While attending a rally in Nebbi District with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on his campaign trail, Maama Janet urged the public to cherish the peace Uganda has enjoyed, cautioning that it shouldn’t be taken for granted.
“Each of us who has a vote carries the responsibility to vote for peace in Uganda,” she said, reminding the crowd that older generations still remember the dark days of violence and instability that plagued the nation.
She stressed that peace is the foundation of progress and prosperity, and warned that if Ugandans take peace for granted, there will be no safe haven to turn to.
“Development, prosperity, and transformation all depend on the peace and freedom we must preserve in this country,” she said.
Maama Janet appealed to the people to remember their duty to their families, communities, and the nation in ensuring peace remains intact. “God is using the NRM in this season to protect peace and freedom,” she added.
President Museveni, who is also the NRM’s presidential candidate, reinforced his wife’s message, explaining that Uganda’s peace and stability are rooted in the NRM’s inclusive ideology and rejection of sectarian politics.
“The NRM has been part of Uganda’s journey for 65 years,” Museveni noted.
He further explained that Uganda’s peace today stems from the NRM’s stance against sectarianism, whether based on religion, tribe, or gender. “We value every Ugandan equally,” he said.
Museveni reflected on Uganda’s pre-independence politics, when parties were divided along religious and tribal lines, making national unity impossible. This divisiveness, he said, led Uganda into years of instability.
“By 1965, we recognized the danger of sectarianism and rejected it,” the President explained. “That’s when we started the youth study groups, which eventually became the NRM.”
He praised the NRM’s focus on patriotism and Pan-Africanism, which he said helped unite Ugandans and build strong, inclusive national institutions like the army, police, and civil service.
The President also highlighted improvements in education, citing the growth of government schools in Nebbi District. He recalled that in the 1960s, there were only three A-level schools in Uganda, whereas today, Nebbi alone has eight government secondary schools, many offering A-levels.
“We’ve made tremendous progress,” he said.
Museveni reaffirmed the government’s commitment to further development in the West Nile region, particularly improving infrastructure and ensuring quality education for all children.
