NRM Sets Stage for Kyankwanzi Retreat to Align New MPs on Ideology and Governance Agenda

The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) is preparing to host a week-long retreat for newly elected Members of Parliament at the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi, in a strategic move aimed at strengthening ideological cohesion and aligning legislators with the party’s governance priorities.

Scheduled to run from April 7 to April 15, 2026, the retreat will convene newly elected NRM MPs, returning legislators, and a number of NRM-leaning independent lawmakers who have expressed willingness to collaborate with the ruling party.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Kampala, NRM Secretary General Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong said the retreat is part of the party’s long-standing tradition of orienting legislators on its ideology, governance framework, and national development agenda.

Participants are expected to report at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on April 6 for accreditation and COVID-19 testing before proceeding to Kyankwanzi the following day. 

“As has been our culture, the party invites newly elected Members of Parliament to Kyankwanzi to bond, understand the party direction, and appreciate national priorities,” Todwong said.

Broad Participation and Political Outreach

The retreat is expected to attract a broad spectrum of political actors within the ruling party structure, including members of the NRM Central Executive Committee, senior party officials, and Cabinet ministers who also serve as legislators.

Rt. Hon. Todwong revealed that approximately 72 independent MPs have been identified, with at least 40 already signing memoranda of understanding to cooperate with the NRM. He expressed optimism that more independents will formalize their cooperation ahead of the retreat.

In a notable gesture of inclusivity, the NRM has extended invitations to opposition legislators interested in attending selected sessions. The programme will even provide space for an opposition figure to present a paper on the role of opposition in national development—an approach the party says is aimed at fostering constructive political engagement.

Focus on Ideology and National Transformation

NRM Deputy Secretary General Rt. Hon. Rose Namayanja said the retreat will be guided by the theme: “Aligning the NRM leadership towards protecting the gains and making the qualitative leap towards a higher middle-income status society.”

She explained that the training programme will cover a wide range of strategic areas, including NRM ideology, governance systems, regional geopolitics, national security, and political economy. Central to the discussions will be the party’s economic philosophy—popularly referred to as “Musevenomics”—which emphasizes wealth creation, value addition, and state-led development.

Other key topics will include human capital development, infrastructure expansion, agricultural transformation, and the legislative role of Parliament, particularly in managing public expectations and ensuring effective representation.

Namayanja underscored the importance of ideological grounding, especially for first-time and younger MPs, noting that the retreat will equip them with a deeper understanding of the party’s principles and policy direction.

President Museveni to Headline Retreat 

The retreat will be officially opened and closed by President Yoweri Museveni, who also serves as the NRM National Chairman. His participation is expected to provide strategic guidance on national priorities and the legislative agenda for the new parliamentary term.

Party officials describe the Kyankwanzi retreat as a critical platform for shaping the policy direction of the incoming Parliament, strengthening party cohesion, and reinforcing the NRM’s governance philosophy.

As Uganda charts its path toward achieving higher middle-income status, the outcomes of the Kyankwanzi engagement are likely to play a significant role in defining both legislative priorities and the broader national development trajectory.