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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called upon Ministers to stay clear of corruption as this will be the only way Uganda will achieve its historic mission of socio-economic transformation.
Museveni made the remarks on Monday while opening a 10-day Cabinet induction retreat at the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi, attended by newly appointed ministers and senior government officials.
He warned that since 1986, certain elements had attempted to infiltrate government institutions for personal gain, including businessmen seeking favors, careerists, criminals and individuals using public offices to enrich themselves and their families.
Museveni stressed that such tendencies undermine national transformation and called on ministers to uphold integrity, discipline and patriotism in public service.
Describing Kyankwanzi as “a place of sacrifice,” Museveni reminded leaders that the National Resistance Movement was built on selflessness and service to the people.
“This is a place of sacrifice,” he noted. “The NRM is a party of sacrifice. People who let us down are people looking for their own things.”
The President warned against ideological disorientation among leaders, saying public service should be guided by political education and a clear understanding of the purpose of leadership rather than personal ambition.
Quoting the Anglican prayer book, he said that some leaders “leave undone what they ought to have done,” emphasizing that the retreat is intended to combat such tendencies.
“I have noticed a decline in political awareness among leaders,” he said. “In order to help yourself, you must understand how to help your people.”
The President drew a distinction between political education and propaganda, arguing that sustainable leadership requires knowledge and ideological grounding. “Political education is knowledge and understanding, whereas propaganda is merely about exciting people,” he said.
Reflecting on the evolution of human societies, Museveni cited the works of German philosopher and economist Karl Marx, whom he described as one of history’s greatest analysts despite disagreeing with some of his conclusions.“By 1848, Karl Marx had identified several social systems,” Museveni said. “I do not agree with some of his conclusions, but he was one of the best analysts.”
He outlined the progression of societies from primitive communalism, slave societies, feudalism, capitalism and socialism, arguing that leaders must understand how economies evolve in order to transform their countries.He noted that Uganda’s challenge is completing the transition from pre-capitalist structures to a modern economy driven by production, value addition, industrialization and wealth creation.
Museveni criticized the colonial economic model introduced by the British after 1894, saying it confined Uganda to the production and export of raw materials such as coffee, cotton, tea and copper.
“They were not interested in creating a modern society and by 1962, only nine percent of Uganda’s population was in the money economy!” he said. He cited recent concerns raised by Ugandans abroad regarding the export of semi-processed tea through regional markets, arguing that greater value addition would significantly increase incomes and create jobs.
He emphasized that processing, packaging and branding Ugandan products locally would enable the country to capture more value from its resources. “The purpose of leadership is to transform society, so we must move our people from subsistence production into the money economy and build a modern society,” he said.
The President urged communities to adopt modern farming methods and collective investment approaches, including shareholding arrangements instead of physically subdividing land.
“We cannot continue to have peasants in Uganda, every family must move from subsistence living into the middle class or the skilled working class,” he emphasized.
President Museveni said the historical role of African leaders both during the independence struggle and in the post-independence era has always been socio-economic transformation. “In this Kisanja, I do not want any excuses, the challenge is socio-economic transformation,” he added. “Peasants must disappear from Uganda; they must become either middle class or skilled middle class.”
Vice President Jessica Alupo said President Museveni’s landslide victory in the recent elections reflected the continued trust Ugandans have in his leadership. She described the Kyankwanzi retreat as more than a retreat, but an opportunity for ministers to acquire knowledge and prepare for their new responsibilities.
THe VP urged ministers to contribute towards the realization of Uganda’s ambitious development targets, including the aspiration to grow the economy to USD 500 billion, while pledging Cabinet’s commitment to fighting corruption.
The Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, reminded ministers that their appointments reflected the President’s confidence in their capabilities and urged them to deliver tangible results. She said the retreat, themed: “Leading Government with Integrity, Discipline and Results: Delivering Uganda to Upper Middle-Income Status,” was intended to equip ministers with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective service.
“The President has sounded a wake-up call,” Nakyobe cautioned. “You must all go to the field and work there. No more time for relaxing and rolling away your chairs.”
She further urged leaders to lead by example in the fight against corruption, describing graft as a major obstacle to Uganda’s aspiration of attaining upper middle-income status
, https://eastafricanwatch.net/be-careful-with-corruption-museveni-warns-cabinet-as-10-day-induction-retreat-starts/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=be-careful-with-corruption-museveni-warns-cabinet-as-10-day-induction-retreat-starts
