President Yoweri Museveni has formally accepted the nomination as the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) presidential flag bearer for the 2026 elections.
He outlined a six-point agenda aimed at transforming Uganda’s economy through value addition, industrialization, and regional integration.
Museveni directly acknowledged the widespread “TovaKuMain” (Don’t Leave the Main Road) mobilization led by Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo’s Office of the National Chairman (ONC), crediting it for galvanizing the party base.
“Millions of Ugandans have been ordering me with the slogan TovaKuMain,” Museveni said. “I am responding to that call to complete the mission we started — lifting Uganda from a raw-material exporter to a high middle-income country.”
Six Core Focus Areas
In his nearly hour-long speech, Museveni outlined six core focus areas that form the foundation of his next term’s manifesto. These include:
– Maintaining Peace and Security: Ensuring stability and security to foster economic growth and development.
– Accelerating Infrastructure Development: Investing in infrastructure to support economic activities and improve living standards.
– Wealth Creation: Fostering entrepreneurship and job creation to boost economic growth.
– Expanding Employment Opportunities: Increasing access to employment opportunities to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods.
– Improving Social Services: Enhancing education and healthcare services to improve human capital development.
– Unlocking Regional Markets: Strengthening regional integration to increase trade and investment opportunities.
Talking about economic Transformation, the president emphasized the need for aggressive reforms to reach a $500 billion economy ahead of 2040.
He cited examples of value addition in coffee production, which could increase earnings from $2.5 to $40 per kilo.
“We have done recovery and diversification,” Museveni said. “But with maximum value addition to all our raw materials and knowledge-based industries, we can leap into the first world.”
President Museveni warned the newly elected NRM structures against turning leadership into a career for personal gain.
“My advice to you is to be wealth creators so you do not look at leadership as a job,” he said. “If our generation had a jobist mentality, Uganda would never have been rescued.”
Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo expressed gratitude and vindication for the months-long grassroots mobilization.
“I am very glad that Jajja [Museveni] has not only heard but has formally embraced the voice of the Bazzukulu who have been clear that he should stay on course and not leave the main line,” she said.
Namyalo pledged to redouble efforts to consolidate support for Museveni across all regions.
“This is not the time for division or sabotage,” she added. “We are going to the villages, the markets, and the youth groups to explain this vision, because TovaKuMain is bigger than individuals, it is about protecting Uganda’s gains.”
Museveni’s nomination as both the National Chairman and Presidential Flag bearer was fronted by the 1st National Vice Chairman, Alhajj Moses Kigongo, and Hon Tom Butime of the NRA historicals, respectively.
The President’s campaign machinery, heavily boosted by the TovaKuMain wave, will pivot to mass mobilization in all subregions, setting the stage for what promises to be a fiercely contested 2026 election
