KYANKWANZI — Newly elected Members of Parliament under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) have gained a deeper understanding of the party’s ideology and manifesto following an intensive leadership retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI), a senior party official has said.
Hajjat Medina Naham, Director of Finance and Administration at the NRM Secretariat, said the ongoing nine-day training has significantly sharpened participants’ ideological grounding and policy awareness.
“The main purpose of this retreat is ideological orientation, and I think so far all members can attest that the ideology has been effectively imparted,” Naham said.
The retreat, held under the guidance of NRM National Chairman and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has brought together Members of Parliament-elect, including some independents and leaders from cooperating political parties.
Naham said participants have also been equipped with a clearer understanding of the NRM manifesto, which she described as a critical governance tool for the next five years.
“The manifesto is no longer just a campaign document; it is now an operational framework that will guide government policies and programs,” she said.
She noted that the ruling party’s strong electoral performance reflects public confidence in its agenda, adding that leaders must now translate the manifesto commitments into tangible results.
The training programme has covered key national and regional issues, including Uganda’s economic trajectory, protection of national sovereignty, and the importance of regional integration and Pan-Africanism.
According to Naham, the retreat is also intended to strengthen leadership cohesion and prepare legislators to effectively execute their roles in Parliament and government.
She further revealed plans to roll out similar ideological and leadership trainings to local government leaders, emphasizing the need for alignment across all levels of governance.
“We cannot be efficient if we only train the top leadership. We must also equip leaders at the grassroots to ensure the country progresses as envisioned,” she said.
The retreat at Kyankwanzi is part of the NRM’s broader efforts to consolidate ideological clarity and enhance service delivery among its leaders.