Museveni outlines four priority areas in new era

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President Yoweri Museveni has revealed priorities of his new term with a warning to legislators in the 12th Parliament against frustrating government projects.

Speaking during the national Labour Day celebrations at Nkoyoyo Boarding Primary School Grounds, Matale, Buikwe district, Museveni outlined four key priority areas for the 2026-2031 term of office as electricity generation, oil pipeline development, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), and water transport, all pursued in collaboration with regional partners Kenya and Tanzania.

The President expressed gratitude to the 2006 NRM Parliamentary Caucus, which backed his proposal to prioritise electricity and roads, among others, addressing the severe load shedding witnessed in 2005.

“In 2006, after the elections, I called the NRM Caucus, and they agreed to put money into electricity and roads. There are other demanding needs, such as water, which is important, education, even health and others. But if you want the economy to expand, there are those priorities that are needed to grow the economy,” Museveni said.

The President’s remarks come less than two weeks before his swearing-in for a five-year term of office.

Uganda joined the rest of the world to mark International Labour Day 2026 under the theme, “Safeguarding Uganda’s Progress: Empowering the Workforce and Promoting Decent Work for Competitive Enterprises.”

Museveni stressed that industrial growth depends on reliable power and reduced transport costs.

“Apart from peace, what is disturbing the industrialists is power. Then you add transport costs. That’s why you hear that our priority is on the railway line, the oil pipeline, and water transport. Once those are in place, the costs of transport and electricity will be low,” he explained.

He added that investors would find Uganda attractive once these priorities are secured, noting that “the investors will be rewarded in Uganda because power and the road network are fine.”

The President said investors will be able to set up more factories, employ Ugandans and contribute to Uganda’s general development.

“When we get electricity, railway transport and water transport on all projects we are collaborating with our neighbours Kenya and Tanzania and get money from Uganda Development Bank for our local investors, the economy will grow,” Museveni said.

According to the President, once the economy expands, it will help the government to do those things that are pending.

On the Parish Development Model (PDM), the President reiterated a plan to inject more funds to support the initiative.

“In all villages and parishes, we need to ensure all homesteads benefit in the PDM,” Museveni said, recalling that in 2013, when Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) was initiated under Gen. Salim Saleh, people outside the money economy stood at 68%.

The President expressed gratitude that many people have adhered to his message on wealth creation, reinforcing his message with televised testimonies of Ugandans who have since entered the money economy by adopting his message.

“This struggle to wake up people from slumber in parishes must continue and get rid of all lack of income in villages. Members of Parliament, you must know the number of households in every parish, how many households have entered into the money economy and how many are still slumbering. We do not want to talk without evidence,” Museveni said.

The President re-echoed the campaign promise that PDM money will be increased by sh200m to sh300m for every parish in the next five-year term of office.