President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on September 29, 2025, unveiled the National Resistance Movement (NRM) manifesto for 2026–2031 at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala. Titled “Protecting the Gains,” the document lays out the NRM’s vision for Uganda’s next five years. It emphasizes wealth creation through the Parish Development Model (PDM), economic transformation powered by oil production, and continued security stabilization.
The launch signals the start of Museveni’s campaign for a sixth term, setting the stage for another competitive election in 2026. The event drew cabinet ministers, party loyalists, business leaders, and international observers, highlighting its significance in Uganda’s political calendar.
Protecting the Gains: Museveni’s Message
Museveni framed the manifesto around the idea of continuity. He argued that Uganda has made immense progress since the NRM took power in 1986, and those achievements must be secured against reversal. Among the highlighted successes were:
- Economic growth: GDP expansion from $34 billion in 1986 to $66 billion in 2025.
- Infrastructure development: New highways, electricity plants, and industrial parks.
- Stability: The defeat of insurgent groups and professionalization of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
According to Museveni, the manifesto represents both a celebration of past achievements and a roadmap for future transformation.
Wealth Creation Through the Parish Development Model
The Parish Development Model (PDM) features prominently in the NRM manifesto 2026. The program seeks to eradicate poverty at the grassroots level by channeling funds directly to parishes. It focuses on moving households from subsistence farming into the cash economy.
Key promises under the PDM include:
- Providing affordable credit through parish cooperatives.
- Expanding access to markets and infrastructure for small-scale producers.
- Offering training and technical support to rural entrepreneurs.
- Ensuring at least one enterprise per household is engaged in income generation by 2031.
Museveni presented the PDM as a long-term solution to unemployment and poverty, targeting Uganda’s rural majority.
Oil Production and Economic Growth
The manifesto promises annual growth rates above 10 percent once Uganda begins commercial oil production. Oil revenue is expected to fund industrialization, expand public infrastructure, and support the national budget.
Museveni stressed that oil wealth will not be wasted. Instead, it will be directed toward:
- Building oil refineries and pipelines for value addition.
- Expanding electricity generation to power industries.
- Investing in skills training for Ugandans to participate in the oil sector.
- Strengthening the country’s position in regional and global trade.
By tying the manifesto’s goals to oil, Museveni projects Uganda as a soon-to-be middle-income economy with new opportunities for citizens.
Security and Regional Cooperation
The manifesto reinforces the NRM’s traditional emphasis on security as the foundation of development. Commitments include modernizing the UPDF, improving intelligence systems, and securing Uganda’s borders against regional threats.
Museveni also pledged to deepen regional integration through platforms like the East African Community (EAC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Stronger trade ties, he argued, will expand export markets and attract investment, ensuring Uganda’s growth is not isolated.
NRM Manifestos Over the Years
The 2026–2031 document builds on a series of past NRM manifestos:
- 2016–2021 (“Taking Uganda to Modernity through Jobs Creation and Inclusive Development”) focused on infrastructure and job creation. While progress was made in roads and energy, unemployment remained a concern.
- 2021–2026 (“Securing Your Future”) prioritized security and economic recovery after COVID-19. It also introduced the Parish Development Model, which is now being scaled up.
The new manifesto positions itself as the bridge from past promises to long-term transformation, portraying consistency in vision while adapting to new challenges like oil exploitation and digital economies.
Political Context: Rivalry with NUP
The manifesto launch occurred against the backdrop of a polarized political landscape. While Museveni addressed supporters in Kampala, the National Unity Platform (NUP), led by Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), unveiled its manifesto in Jinja.
The timing underscored the fierce contest ahead. Museveni projects experience and continuity, while the opposition promotes generational change and reform. For many Ugandans, especially youth, the choice will be between stability under the NRM or transformation under new leadership.
Achievements Since 1986: The NRM Record
Museveni used the occasion to remind Ugandans of what he described as NRM’s enduring gains:
- Expansion of primary and secondary education through UPE and USE programs.
- Increased life expectancy from under 50 years in 1986 to above 63 today.
- Electrification and expansion of telecommunication networks.
- Uganda’s reputation as a regional peacekeeper, with UPDF missions in Somalia and South Sudan.
By anchoring the manifesto in historical achievements, Museveni sought to position himself as the guardian of Uganda’s progress.
Challenges Facing the Manifesto
Despite ambitious pledges, the NRM manifesto 2026 faces skepticism. Critics point to unfulfilled promises in past manifestos, persistent corruption, youth unemployment, and regional inequalities. Opposition parties argue that new pledges sound familiar but lack accountability mechanisms.
Civil society leaders caution that oil revenue could become a curse without transparency and prudent management. Others worry about shrinking political freedoms and the need for electoral reforms to ensure credible elections.
A Defining Campaign for Uganda’s Future
The 2026 elections will be decisive. If the NRM secures another term, it will mark four decades of Museveni’s leadership. For supporters, this continuity offers stability and growth. For critics, it represents stagnation and resistance to generational change.
The NRM manifesto 2026, titled “Protecting the Gains,” encapsulates this tension. It is a pledge to build on Uganda’s economic progress while addressing grassroots poverty through the PDM, securing oil-driven growth, and reinforcing national security.
Whether Ugandans embrace continuity or demand change will be determined at the ballot box in 2026. What is clear is that this manifesto, like its predecessors, will shape political debate and define Uganda’s development agenda for years to come.
