By Jumah Kakomo
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) is firmly focused on steering Uganda to a higher middle-income status through its 2026–2031 election manifesto, Secretary General Rt Hon Richard Todwong has said.
Todwong was speaking at the ongoing NRM leaders’ retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, where he presented under the theme: “Achieving Higher Middle-Income Status for Uganda: 2026–2031 Election Manifesto.”
He said the new manifesto is designed to consolidate the country’s socio-economic gains while making a decisive and qualitative leap toward transforming Uganda into a higher middle-income economy.
“Our focus is to protect the gains we have made and now move into a new phase where we ensure that every household participates in wealth creation,” Todwong said.
He explained that the manifesto is grounded in the historical evolution of Uganda’s economy, tracing its journey from a largely subsistence system before colonial rule, through the enclave economy of the colonial period, to the collapse experienced in the years leading up to 1986.
According to Todwong, when the NRM came to power, it inherited a country with weak institutions, a collapsed economy, and depleted human resource capacity. Over the years, deliberate efforts have been made to rebuild these foundations through strategic planning and policy implementation.
He noted that the NRM’s 10-point program laid the groundwork for subsequent development frameworks, which have been implemented through successive manifestos focusing on peace, unity, democracy, and economic transformation.
Todwong highlighted that earlier manifestos prioritized restoring peace and stability, which were prerequisites for any meaningful development. He recalled that by the early 2000s, large parts of the country were still affected by insecurity, making it difficult to advance economic programs.
With the return of stability, the focus shifted to prosperity for all, modernization, and transformation, including investments in agriculture, infrastructure, and key productive sectors.
He said the 2026–2031 manifesto builds on these foundations, with emphasis now shifting from what President Yoweri Museveni has described as “hardware” to “software” aspects of development.
“These hardware issues included infrastructure, peace and security, macroeconomic stability, and governance systems. We have largely addressed them. The focus now is on the software—human capital development and putting money in people’s pockets,” he said.
Todwong pointed to strong economic indicators, noting that Uganda’s GDP has grown to approximately 68.5 billion U.S. dollars, with projections of about 7 percent annual growth.
He added that implementation of the current 2021–2026 manifesto stands at about 88 percent, reflecting significant progress in delivering on government commitments.
Among the key achievements, he cited increased industrialization, with the number of factories rising significantly, growth in export earnings to over 13 billion U.S. dollars, expansion in electricity generation, and a strong recovery in tourism following the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also noted improvements in social indicators, including increased life expectancy, reduced infant mortality, and better health outcomes, attributing these gains to sustained government investment in social services.
However, Todwong acknowledged that several challenges remain, including environmental degradation, regional imbalances in development, and gaps in access to essential utilities such as electricity and water.
He emphasized that the next phase of development will focus on addressing these gaps while ensuring inclusive growth across all regions of the country.
“Our intention is to spread industrialization and investment across the country so that all regions benefit equally,” he said, citing ongoing efforts to establish industrial parks and attract investors to areas such as Karamoja, Northern Uganda, and other underserved regions.
Todwong further stressed that the ultimate goal of the manifesto is to empower households and communities to become productive and self-sustaining.
“We have done well in infrastructure, health, education, and security. Now the focus is to ensure that the last household in every constituency that is not yet producing income becomes productive and part of the money economy,” he said.
He also underscored the importance of aligning Members of Parliament with the manifesto, noting that the Kyankwanzi retreat is a critical platform for building a shared understanding of government priorities and strengthening coordination between the party and its leaders.
Todwong expressed confidence that with disciplined implementation, continued unity, and strong leadership, Uganda is on course to achieve its goal of transitioning to a higher middle-income economy.
The NRM retreat in Kyankwanzi continues to provide a forum for leaders to reflect on the country’s development journey, assess progress, and chart the path forward toward sustainable and inclusive growth.
