President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni conducted a firearms training session for Members of Parliament at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, marking the conclusion of a week-long legislative retreat.
The exercise, which involved basic shooting practice and firearms handling guided personally by the President, served as the final activity of a retreat held from April 7 to April 14, 2026. The gathering operated under the theme of aligning National Resistance Movement (NRM) leadership to protect national gains and transition Uganda toward a higher middle-income status society.
National Defence and the Reserve Force
During the session, President Museveni framed the training within the context of Uganda’s “people’s army” doctrine. He argued that national security is strengthened when citizens are equipped with basic military science, allowing them to maintain civilian professional lives although remaining available as a reserve force during national emergencies.
Comparing the model to the defense strategies used in Israel, the President noted that continuous training and the mobilization of reservists allow countries to maximize their defense capacity regardless of population size. He cited previous instances where local defense units were mobilized to address security threats as evidence of the necessity of such preparedness.
Col. Okei Rukogota, Director of NALI, stated that the recently inaugurated shooting range is designed to support the ongoing training of civilians in basic defense skills. Rukogota characterized the empowerment of citizens with defense capabilities as a departure from dictatorial governance, asserting that such initiatives protect the country’s democratic and transformation processes.
Governance and Anti-Corruption Mandates
Beyond military training, the President utilized the gathering to address systemic corruption, identifying it as the primary obstacle to Uganda’s developmental progress. He warned legislators that failure to combat corruption would render other national efforts ineffective.
Museveni specifically cautioned Members of Parliament against the practice of vote-buying, and bribery. He described the act of offering little sums of money to voters in exchange for five-year leadership mandates as detrimental to the integrity of national leadership.
The President further addressed the financial stability of lawmakers, advising them to avoid unsustainable borrowing. He urged the use of established support systems, such as savings and credit cooperatives, stating that financial bankruptcy is incompatible with effective leadership.
Welfare and Economic Integration
The President highlighted the government’s historical approach to military welfare, noting that instead of focusing solely on high salaries, the state prioritized collective support systems. These include scholarships and schools for the children of soldiers, as well as the Wazalendo SACCO initiative aimed at improving livelihoods through structured credit and savings.
He emphasized that families of service members are encouraged to engage in productive economic activities to increase household income without resorting to corrupt practices.
As the retreat concluded, the President directed legislators to return to their constituencies with a focus on integrity and the promotion of wealth creation among citizens, linking the country’s transformation to disciplined leadership and the integration of the population into the money economy.
