Duncan Abigaba
Uganda, under the leadership of President Museveni and the NRM, has made significant progress over the last four decades. The NRM has since 1986 restored peace and security for person and property, expanded the economy twenty-fold, from the net importer of basic commodities to a net exporter of most consumer goods, rivalling Kenya, the regional industrial power house. Our Human Development Index has improved, as evidenced by health, education and wealth creation programmes for all.
The party has also strengthened governance and democracy, ensured regular, free and fair elections, and improved our international standing. However, it is time to listen to Ugandans, from the urban youth to the rural Maama Mboga. The sense of inclusion in mass programmes, the promise of justice for all, the hope of shared prosperity is all fading. Today, the ordinary citizen is losing their land to wealthy land grabbers usually backed by someone in the security system, public spaces like wetlands have been grabbed , and public social services like free public education, free health care are becoming a myth. The levels of nepotism are alarming.
According to the IGG, the country is losing Shs 10 trillion every year in ghost projects, inflated procurement deals and payroll fraud. The Auditor General’s reports are filled with evidence, but action is slow and sometimes non-existent. The NRM leadership, once pro-people, charismatic and responsive, has aged — both literally and ideologically. The average age of Uganda’s cabinet is over 60, while 78percent of Ugandans are under 35.
This generation gap has created a disconnect. Young Ugandans are digital natives, dreaming in code and algorithms, but the government is stuck in yesteryears, evidenced by the cadres deployed in the Ministry of ICT. We have yet to formulate an artificial intelligence strategy, while the rest of the world is discussing robotaxis, robots and hyperloop tunnels. Whereas the ministry has made some progress, they are far too slow for the pace of global change. The digital space, which should have been a platform for innovation, e-commerce, civic engagement, et al, has been stifled.
Facebook has been blocked in Uganda since January 2021 – a platform with over 3 million people at the time of its closure. While the world embraces digital democracy and artificial intelligence, we are closing doors. The NRM must choose to continue down the path of stagnation, or to rise again through the process I have called Creative Disruption – a deliberate agenda to Reform, Rebrand and Reshape the party for the future.
Reform – to return to the founding principles of the NRM – Patriotism, Pan Africanism, Democracy and Socio-economic transformation, serviced by discipline and sacrifice. The party must purge corruption from the public institutions, enforce law and order, strengthen anti-corruption agencies and build a zero tolerance to corruption culture. Rebrand – appreciating that the Uganda of today isn’t the Uganda of 1986. We must shed the image of the liberation-era party and embrace a modern, inclusive identity that speaks to the aspirations of our young people.
Rebranding isn’t just logos and slogans – it’s the message and action. We need to refresh our communication channels, embrace pro-youth and tech-savvy leaders, and policies that reflect today’s realities—from e-commerce, the gig economy, to artificial intelligence. Reshape – to reimagine leadership for the next generation.
We must build institutions that are resilient, transparent, and responsive. We must embrace digital government, support innovation hubs, and position Uganda as a leader in African tech. Above all, we must create space for new voices, new leaders, and new ideas. This is not a call to abandon the NRM — it is a call to save it from itself. It is a call to honour the sacrifices of those who rebuilt this country by engaging in a liberation struggle 45 years ago, to defeat dictatorship and regression. It is a call to those within the Movement who still believe in its core mission to stand up and be counted.
Duncan Abigaba is a former presidential assistant and Aspirant for NRM National Vice Chairperson — Western Region.
