By The Principal, St. Mary’s College, Mayenze (Manafwa District)
As we approach the historic polling days this election year, our hearts are full of gratitude. I would like to thank all Presidential and Parliamentary candidates for their spirited participation, your voices are essential to our democratic growth.A special debt of gratitude goes to the NRM Secretariat and Task Force for their tireless countrywide mobilization. We commend the Rt. Hon. Speaker Anita Among for her energetic role in the campaigns and the Hon. Minister for the Presidency, Milly Babalanda, for her exceptional supervision of government visibility. Most importantly, we thank H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his steady, eloquent and humorous campaign trail—a true masterclass in leadership. We also honor the First Lady, Mama Janet Museveni, and the First Family for their unwavering support of the national vision.To the Electoral Commission, we thank you for organizing this exercise, and to the People of Uganda, we thank you for being the peace-loving citizens who make this progress possible.
As we go to the polls, let us reflect on the Ten Pillars of our National Progress:1. The Education Revolution: From UPE to Chartered UniversitiesIn my vocation as an educator, the NRM’s educational revolution stands as a masterclass in the democratization of knowledge, moving Uganda from an elitist system to one of universal opportunity. The cornerstone of this progress is the success of Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE), which have shattered the barriers to entry for millions of children, raising the national literacy rate from 43% in 1986 to over 76% today. This foundation is being solidified by the 2026–2031 commitment to recruit 49,406 new teachers and the aggressive construction of Seed Secondary Schools in every sub-county, ensuring that the National Cake of education is baked and served at the grassroots.Beyond basic literacy, the President’s policy of Liberalization has catalyzed a tertiary education boom; Uganda now boasts over 10 private chartered universities—including institutions like Uganda Christian University, KIU, and Ndejje, a feat rarely seen in developing nations. This has created a competitive, affordable landscape that complements the expansion of public universities across all major regions.
Furthermore, the NRM has ensured that the brightest minds from humble backgrounds are not left behind, through the Government Strategy of University Scholarships and the Student Loan Scheme. By aligning these gains with the New Competency-Based Curriculum, which shifts focus from job seekers to job creators, the NRM is protecting a legacy where education is no longer a luxury for the few, but a powerful engine for national middle-income transformation.2. Civil Service and the Promise of a Living WageIn the sphere of Public Service and Governance, the NRM’s strategy for Civil Service Transformation is rooted in the phased enhancement of the national wage bill, moving Uganda toward a sustainable Living Wage. As a Master’s Scholar in Public Administration and Management, I view the systematic salary enhancement for scientists, including health workers, engineers and researchers, as a deliberate move to retain the country’s brain power and drive innovation.
This commitment is evidenced by the UShs 8.5 trillion wage bill allocation for FY 2025/2026, which includes specific provisions for enhancing the pay of Local Government leaders, from Chief Administrative Officers to Town Clerks. President Museveni has strategically sequenced these reforms, ensuring that as the economy expands through lower production costs and new revenues, the benefits are shared with our civil servants. By prioritizing those who drive the technical sectors first, while keeping other cadres in the pipeline for the next financial year, the NRM is ensuring that our public officers do not just work for a salary, but for a wage that reflects the true dignity of their labor. This steady progress is the only way to achieve a full middle-income status where every public servant, from the classroom teacher to the district clerk, earns a living wage supported by a robust and outstanding economy. 3. Integrity in Governance: The War on CorruptionIn the realm of Institutional Integrity and Accountability, the NRM government has shifted from merely denouncing corruption to building a formidable, multi-layered architecture for its eradication. I recognize the strategic genius in creating a competitive anti-corruption environment where the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), works alongside specialized units to ensure no stone is left unturned.
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU), has become a household name for its rapid-response capability, having already recovered over UShs 30 billion in stolen funds and arraigned over 580 suspects, including high-ranking officials, since its inception. This effort is bolstered by a revamped Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), which has seen increased facilitation and training to handle complex white-collar crimes with forensic precision. By empowering these agencies and creating a direct channel for Wananchi to report graft through the Zero Tolerance to Corruption Policy, the President has proved that the NRM is not only protective of the national purse but is committed to a culture of transparency that ensures every shilling meant for a road, a hospital, or a school reaches its intended destination.4. Modern Cities and Urban InfrastructureThe NRM’s decision to elevate 15 strategic municipalities to City Status—including regional hubs like Mbarara, Gulu, Jinja and Arua marks a decisive shift toward organized, productive urbanization that serves as an engine for regional growth. As a Master’s scholar, I note that this is not merely a change in title but a deep structural overhaul fueled by massive investments like the US$600 million regional city infrastructure fund and the successful USMID program.
These interventions have radically improved the urban landscape, replacing dust and mud with thousands of kilometers of paved roads and installing over 2,600 solar street lights that have extended trading hours and enhanced security for our wananchi. Beyond mobility, the NRM has prioritized the dignity of our traders by constructing state-of-the-art modern markets with integrated childcare and sanitation facilities, while simultaneously tackling long-standing urban bottlenecks through extensive drainage networks and improved waste management systems. By creating these smart cities, the government is de-congesting Kampala and ensuring that the high-quality infrastructure required for trade, industry and a decent life is equitably distributed across the whole of Uganda.5. Financial Inclusion: PDM, Emyooga, and Credit FacilitationIn the realm of Economic Empowerment and Financial Inclusion, the NRM’s strategy represents a fundamental shift from central planning to bottom-up wealth creation, ensuring that the National Cake is accessible to every household.
The Parish Development Model (PDM) is a revolutionary intervention that has turned all 10,594 parishes into self-sustaining economic hubs, successfully moving millions of Ugandans from the subsistence periphery into the active money economy. This success is evidenced by the fact that 60% of PDM beneficiaries accessed formal credit for the first time in 2024/25, with poverty levels falling from 20.3% to 16.4% as families utilize the Parish Revolving Fund to start commercial ventures. Complementing this is the Emyooga initiative, which has organized millions of workers from boda-boda riders to tailors into SACCOs, fostering a culture of savings and collective investment. Furthermore, the NRM has de-risked the private sector by easing credit facilitation through the Microfinance Support Centre and providing patient, low-interest capital via the Uganda Development Bank (UDB), which offers specialized loans (as low as 10-12%) for women, youth, and SME expansion. To anchor our agricultural backbone, the Agricultural Credit Facility (ACF) at the Bank of Uganda has disbursed over UShs 1.23 trillion, enabling farmers to acquire machinery and value-addition technology. By integrating these financial streams with the grassroots mobilization of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), the NRM is protecting the gain of Financial Sovereignty, ensuring that every Ugandan has the tools, the capital, and the support to build a prosperous future.6. National Morality and Religious TolerationThe NRM’s policy of Religious In the realm of National Morality and Spiritual Harmony, the NRM’s policy of Religious Toleration has been a cornerstone of Uganda’s stability, effectively healing the sectarian divisions that fueled the conflicts of the 1960s and 70s.
By constitutionalizing Uganda as a secular state that recognizes God in its national motto For God and My Country, the President has created a unique environment where over 100 different faith-based organizations and denominations flourish side-by-side without state interference. This open-door policy has allowed the traditional Big Three (Catholics, Anglicans, and Muslims) to coexist harmoniously with the rapidly growing Pentecostal (Born-Again) movement, the Orthodox Church, Seventh-day Adventists, and even minority faiths like the Baha’i and Hindu communities. This is not just about freedom of worship; it is a strategic partnership for national development, where the government facilitates the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda (IRCU) to consult on national policy, and religious leaders are empowered as key partners in the National Ethical Values Policy. By protecting this pluralism, the NRM has ensured that religion remains a source of national morality and a social glue rather than a tool for discrimination, fostering a generation of citizens who are disciplined, ethical and united by shared spiritual values.7. National Unity and the Equal Sharing of the CakeThe NRM’s greatest legacy is the definitive end of the politics of identity that once fractured Uganda along tribal and regional lines.
The President has moved the country toward a Shared National Cake through a policy of decentralization that ensures no region is left behind; this is visible from the massive affirmative action programs in Northern Uganda (NUSAF) and the Karamoja Development Agency, to the equitable distribution of high-quality infrastructure in West Nile and the East. By rejecting sectarianism and promoting a Uganda-first ideology, the NRM has ensured that a citizen in Kotido and another in Kisoro feel equally represented in the national budget. This unity is further cemented by the Parish Development Model (PDM), which injects wealth directly into all 10,594 parishes across the country regardless of political affiliation, proving that under Museveni’s leadership, the gains of the state are a collective inheritance for all.8. Regional Integration: The East African PowerhouseAs a scholar of International Relations, I recognize H.E. Yoweri Museveni as the Dean of Pan-Africanism and the primary architect of the modern East African Community (EAC). His strategic vision has expanded the bloc to include the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan, creating a massive continental market of over 300 million people that stretches from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic. This is not just diplomacy; it is a survival strategy for the African person. Under the NRM’s guidance, we are fast-tracking the EAC Monetary Union to achieve a single currency, which will eliminate the tax on borders and lower the cost of doing business. By championing the removal of non-tariff barriers and pushing for the East African Political Federation, President Museveni is ensuring that a youth from Manafwa can freely move their goods, labor and innovation to Juba or Kinshasa, transforming Uganda from a landlocked country into a land-linked hub of African prosperity.9. A Health Sector of ExcellenceUnder the NRM’s stewardship, Uganda’s health sector has undergone a profound structural metamorphosis, successfully bridging the gap between grassroots prevention and advanced medical science. At the primary level, the government has moved beyond mere construction to functionalization, ensuring that the National Minimum Health Care Package is a reality; this is evidenced by the systematic upgrading of Health Centre IIs to Health Centre IIIs in nearly 400 sub-counties, now staffed by dedicated Clinical Officers as the backbone of rural care. To de-congest referral systems, the NRM has prioritized the county level by posting Medical Doctors (Medical Officers) to Health Centre IVs nationwide, empowering these mini-hospitals to handle emergency obstetric care and minor surgeries locally. Simultaneously, the NRM has ended the era of medical tourism by domesticating super-specialized services: from successful kidney transplants and advanced cardiac surgeries at a revamped Mulago National Referral Hospital to the installation of high-tech Linear Accelerators at the Uganda Cancer Institute. By operationalizing specialized hubs like Kiruddu National Referral Hospital and equipping all Regional Referral Hospitals with CT scans and oxygen plants, the government has ensured that life-saving diagnostics and treatments are no longer a privilege of the city-dwelling few, but a right for all Ugandans, ultimately raising national life expectancy from 43 years in 1986 to over 63 years today.10. Revamping National Pride: Uganda Airlines and the RailwayIn a bold move to lower the cost of transport and boost tourism, the NRM has successfully revamped Uganda Airlines, which now connects our pearl to global destinations like London, Dubai and Mumbai. Despite the inherent challenges of the aviation industry, our national carrier remains a symbol of sovereignty and a catalyst for the export of Ugandan coffee and horticulture. Simultaneously, the government is rehabilitating the Meter Gauge Railway and finalizing the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to move heavy cargo off our roads, significantly reducing the cost of doing business.
This physical infrastructure is matched by fiscal infrastructure, the Ministry of Finance has maintained a steady and timely flow of funds to Local Governments and agencies, ensuring that the wheels of service delivery from road maintenance to the payment of teachers turn without friction. This disciplined funding model is the engine that will propel us into a full middle-income status, where our outstanding economy supports a dignified life for all.The Choice for Thursday Fellow Ugandans, we have a tested, able and strategic leader in H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. He has built the runway, and now he is ready for the take-off. Let us go out and vote for the Bus. Let us vote for the future of our children.
