President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Sunday, September 8th, 2024, urged local government leaders to realign their priorities with the core principles of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
The President emphasised the importance of adhering to the mass line, a guiding principle of the NRM since its inception, which prioritises the needs and rights of the masses over those of the elite.
He made these remarks while passing out 1,001 local government leaders from 10 districts who had undergone a transformational leadership course at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.
The cadres, who completed their two-week training are from the districts of Yumbe, Kibuku, Masaka, Kiboga, Kibale, Gomba, Mbarara, Nakasongola, Kanungu, and Mbarara City.
President Museveni reminded the leaders of the NRM’s foundational principles and its historical approach to resolving internal contradictions within the party and government.
He highlighted how the NRM has consistently focused on addressing the needs of all Ugandans rather than catering for the elite interests.
“When the NRM started, other political parties existed, but they failed to make the masses their focal point. They believed in an elitist view that left the uneducated behind. We said no to this,” he narrated.
The President also pointed out specific areas where adherence to the mass line principle is crucial. For instance, he noted issues within local governments, such as the theft of medicines from district hospitals and lack of emphasis on nutrition and hygiene.
President Museveni also addressed the issue of the education sector, particularly the 1997 initiative known as “Boonabasome,” which aimed to remove school charges and provide free education for all.
Despite government efforts to build schools and provide capitation grants, he noted that full implementation is yet to be achieved.
“For example, in primary schools, we have 11 million children, but only 2 million progresses to secondary education. Where are the remaining 9 million children? This is a failure of the elite to fully implement the mass line, resulting in high dropout rates and interruptions in our education goals,” he said.
The President urged local leaders to embrace the mass line principles, which focus on creating prosperity for everyone.
“In the 1960s, we had no power except our voices. As leaders, you must work for everyone. The purpose of politics should be to create prosperity, not to divide people by identity. Old parties focused on identity politics like the Democratic Party (DP), which was mainly Catholic; Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), which was for Protestants and some Muslims; and Kabaka Yekka, which was for Baganda and some Muslims,” he explained.
President Museveni further emphasised the importance of patriotism and Pan-Africanism as central to the NRM’s philosophy.
“Our number one priority is patriotism and the spirit of Uganda. We believe that prosperity comes from every adult producing goods or services, not from begging or relying on others. Pan-Africanism is also crucial, as Africa can better support our prosperity than Uganda alone,” he added.
Additionally, the President addressed a key concern of injustice to the masses, noting that despite the tremendous progress on security in the country, the vice still remains.
He stressed that the NRM’s fundamental need was security for everyone.
“We said that we must ensure security for all Ugandans; no one should be able to disturb any citizen,” President Museveni said.
He highlighted the role of the army in maintaining peace, noting improvements in military discipline, which have contributed to a more stable environment.
President Museveni criticised the approach of local government leaders whereby they leave such disputes to the courts, especially when many affected individuals cannot afford legal representation.
The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja informed the President about the successful completion of the second intake of ideological transformational courses for local leaders.
Hon. Victoria Rusoke Busingye, Minister of State for Local Government, praised the transparency and acceptance observed at the recent NALI training. Reflecting on discussions at Kaweweta and NALI, Hon. Busingye highlighted the importance of open dialogue in advancing national development.
On behalf of the participants, Mr. Kasiki Asiku, the District Speaker of Yumbe Local Government, emphasised that the training provided was instrumental in enhancing leaders' capacity for monitoring government programs and improving service delivery.
Others in attendance included Col. Justus Rukundo, the commandant of Oliver Reginald Tambo School of Leadership, Kaweweta; the NALI Director, Brig. Charles Kisembo; the Woman Member of Parliament for Mbarara City, Hon. Rita Atukwasa; and Hon. Robina Rwakoojo, the Member of Parliament for Gomba West, among others.
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