NRM Legislators urged to embrace PDM, Emyooga Funds as they adopt 24 Resolutions

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is also the National Chairman of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) appealed to the party’s Parliamentary Caucus on Sunday afternoon to diligently oversee and supervise the government’s programs of Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, aimed at transitioning society from traditional ways of life to modernity.

During the closing of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus Retreat held at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi District, President Museveni emphasized the importance of the Caucus members’ role in supervising the Emyooga and PDM funds. He urged them not to handle money directly but instead focus on providing supervision.

“There is Emyooga under the constituency level and PDM under the parish level, the two funds are under you. You are not a cashier, you don’t need to touch money, your work is to supervise,” he stressed.

The closing ceremony occurred at Rwamasindi Abasonga Presidential Farm in Bulyamusenyu village, Kinoni Sub-County, Nakaseke North. The retreat, which ran under the theme “Increasing Household Incomes and Wealth Creation: The Critical Role of the Leader,” brought together over 400 Members of Parliament, including NRM-leaning Independents.

President Museveni expressed his deep appreciation for the opportunity to spend quality time with the NRM caucus members, particularly the young and educated individuals. He emphasized his desire to pass on his knowledge about the NRM/NRA and encouraged the Caucus members to embody the spirit of the National Resistance Army (NRA). He emphasized that the retreat aimed to help the NRM young blood internalize the party’s ideology.

“I am very happy to interface with you. When I look at you, many of you are very young people and educated. I feel the urge to spend more quality time with you to pass to you what I know, and you know about NRM/NRA,” he said. 

The President also shared an anecdote about 28 young cadres he recruited and trained in Tanzania in 1976. These individuals later became the nucleus of the current Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and founded FRONASA to combat Idi Amin. He highlighted that out of the original 28, only General Salim Saleh, Bosco Omule, and General Ivan Koreta survived. President Museveni urged the Caucus members not to squander their opportunities and emphasized the importance of embracing the NRA spirit for future progress.

“Our next struggle is to ensure free education so that children from poor backgrounds can complete primary, secondary, and tertiary education,” he stressed.

Before the President delivered his remarks, the resolutions passed by the Caucus during the retreat were presented by the Government’s Chief Whip, Hon. Hamson Obua. The resolutions expressed appreciation for President Museveni’s presence and his enlightening keynote address, which clarified the elements of ideology, strategy, policy, and administrative commitment.

The Caucus members also commended the President for his compelling and educational presentation on the role of leaders in increasing household incomes and wealth creation. They pledged to unite all members of the NRM around the party’s guiding ideological principles of patriotism, pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy.

Recognizing the significance of political leaders, including Members of Parliament, in implementing the PDM and Emyooga programs, the participants acknowledged that education, combined with increased household incomes, is a crucial pillar for achieving socio-economic transformation.

The resolutions also included commitments from the Caucus members to actively support the value-addition process for products such as coffee and sugar.

Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, the Prime Minister, pledged on behalf of the Caucus members to implement the resolutions and support all government programs.

The Secretary General of the NRM, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong announced the establishment of a new department of Policy and Research within the Secretariat. This department will collect data from rural areas to strengthen the party. The Secretary-General also commended President Museveni for his constant reminders to serve the people diligently.

RESOLUTIONS

WE, MEMBERS of the Caucus of the National Resistance Movement and allied friendly Independents in the 11^th Parliament of Uganda – having assembled in Retreat at the National Leadership Institute, Kyankwanzi from 27^th to 4^th June 2023, at the invitation of the leader of our Revolution H.E. the President and National Chairperson Yoweri K. Museveni;

RECALLING the great and glorious history of the protracted struggle of the people of Uganda under the leadership of the Movement over the last 60 years;

COMMITTED to fulfilling the Movement’s Historical Mission of transforming Uganda from a Traditional Society to Modernity;

HAVING over the last nine (9) days engaged in robust, focused and critical interface around the thematic focus of the role of national and other leaders in exponentially increasing Household Incomes and Wealth Creation;

DEEPLY MINDFUL of our immense responsibilities and duty to the Movement and to the people of Uganda;

DO HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

1. H.E THE PRESIDENT AND NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON:

a). To deeply appreciate the continuous presence and overall guidance of the leader of our Revolution, H.E. the President and NRM National Chairperson Yoweri. K. Museveni – throughout the Retreat;

b). To most warmly appreciate H.E. the President for the Keynote Address to the Retreat, and note his emphasis on the vital need for clarity regarding the elements of: Ideology; Strategy; Policy, Implementation and Cohesion;

c).To most warmly appreciate H.E. the President for his highly educative presentation on the Role of the Leaders in Increasing Household Incomes and Wealth Creation;

2. THE FACILITATORS OF THE RETREAT:

To most warmly thank all the facilitators we have interfaced with in the Retreat, and whose papers are appended to these Resolutions;

3. SENIOR MOVEMENT AND STATE LEADERS:

To most warmly salute the First LadyMama Janet Museveni, H.E. the Vice President, the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister, Rt. Honourable the Secretary General – amongst other senior Movement and State Leaders – who have attended the Retreat in its entirety;

4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE RETREAT:

To most warmly salute the Government Chief Whip, the Director NALI, and the combined Team which has managed the administration;

5. UNITY OF THE MOVEMENT:

To firmly commit to consolidating the unity of all members of the Movement around its guiding ideological principles of Patriotism, Pan Africanism, Socio-Economic Transformation, and Democracy – and around the leader of our Revolution and General of the African Resistance, Yoweri K. Museveni;

6. THE ROLE OF THE LEADERS IN INCREASING HOUSEHOLD INCOMES AND WEALTH CREATION:

a). To clearly recognize that the political leaders – including the Members of Parliament – are the ultimate and functional leaders of the process of increasing Household Incomes and Wealth Creation, and therefore bear a very heavy responsibility under the circumstances;

b). To clearly recognize that increasing Household Incomes and Wealth Creation is only a nodal point, although a critical one – in a historical process of the Socio-Economic Transformation of our country, from Traditional Society to Modernity;

c). To clearly recognize that Education for All, is the other anchor – alongside increasing Household Incomes – for Socio-Economic Transformation;

7. STRATEGIC MODUS OPERANDI BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND THE CAUCUS:

a). That the Caucus shall maintain a special focus on, and maximally support Value Addition on the production, processing, etc., of commodities – including Coffee, Sugar, etc.;

b). That urgent/emergency meetings of the Caucus shall be convened whenever there are incidences of lack of generalized clarity – for purposes of deepening cohesion on vital economic and other issues;

c). That the NRM Parliamentary Caucus shall be convened to consider and build internal consensus on the National Budgetary Priorities, and Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure;

d). That Members of the Caucus should be fully alive to the entire policy framework of the NRM Government;

e). That Members of the Caucus should not ordinarily bring to Parliament, or support, a Private Member, Bill. Whenever this is necessary, however, it should be done through the Caucus;

f). That Members should always work through the Caucus. Once decisions are made, they should be supported;

g). That Members of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus, should be disciplined and know when and where to disagree;

h). That Members of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus should be able to do sufficient research to support Government work and also to render support to the Executive.

8. ELECTION OF COMMISSIONERS OF PARLIAMENT:

That the NRM Parliamentary Caucus recommends to the NRM Central Executive Committee to consider approving amendments to the NRM Parliamentary Caucus Rules of Procedure and any other regulation(s), to provide for Parliamentary Commissioners on NRM ticket to be elected by the NRM Parliamentary Caucus – with effect from December 2023, i.e., the 3^rd Session of the 11^th Parliament;

9. REVIEW OF THE NRM GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE IN THE 1^ST AND 2^ND SESSIONS OF THE 11^TH PARLIAMENT:

a). That Members warmly welcome the exhaustive report and related thorough clarifications – delivered by the Rt. Honourable Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja;

b). That Members eagerly await the next Retreat or any other appropriate arrangement, to receive detailed Reports from all the Sectors;

10. MID-TERM REVIEW OF THE NRM MANIFESTO IMPLEMENTATION:

a). That Members warmly welcome the exhaustive report, and related thorough clarifications – delivered by the Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Milly Babalanda;

b). That Members eagerly await the next Retreat or any other appropriate arrangement, to receive detailed Reports from all the Sectors;

11. PRESENTATIONS ON GIVING MEMBERS THE PARTY WHIP, AND REVISITING THE LAW-MAKING PROCESSES AND THE ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE PARTY:

a). That Members warmly welcome the presentations delivered by the Rt. Honourable Justine Lumumba, and the learned Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka;

b). That Members warmly appreciate the clarifications on the roles of individuals, offices and institutions, the relationship between the Caucus on the one hand, the leadership of the Movement and the Executive on the other;

c). That Members warmly appreciate the clarifications on the political and legal framework of the totality of the legislative process;

12. REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY PERFORMANCE, AND UNDERSTANDING NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN III PRIORITIES:

a). That Members warmly welcome the presentations delivered by the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury, and the Deputy Executive Director of the National Planning Authority;

b). That Members warmly welcome the critical foundational and background information shared by the two entities;

13. PRESIDENTIAL INITIATIVE ON WEALTH AND JOB CREATION (EMYOOGA):

a). Members warmly welcome the presentation and clarifications on the Emyooga Program, delivered by the Minister for Micro-Finance, Hon. Haruna Kasolo;

b). Members note the clarification and emphasis by H.E. the President on the following:

• That recoveries under the Emyooga Program shall be due after 12 months;
• That payments shall be effected for up to 24 months;

14. PARISH DEVELOPMENT MODEL IMPLEMENTATION:

a). Members warmly welcome the presentation and clarifications on the Parish Development Model, delivered by the National Coordinator, Parish Development Model Secretariat, Hon. Galabuzi Ssozi;

b). Members note the clarification and emphasis by H.E. the President on the following:

• That recoveries under the PDM shall be due after 24 Months.
• That payments shall be effected for up to 36 Months.

c). Members note that PDM is the NRM Government flagship Program, aimed at bringing all Households and our People into the Monetary Economy – through strategic interventions at the Parish;

15. LEADERS AND PERSONAL FINANCE MANAGEMENT:

Members warmly welcome and appreciate the presentation of Dr. Peter Kimbowa on this subject;

16. UGANDA REVENUE AUTHORITY:

a). Members warmly appreciate the presentation and clarifications on the Challenges of Revenue Collection delivered by Commissioner General John Rujoki Musinguzi;

b). Members accept the offer of the URA leadership for a full day exhaustive, and interactive session – at the earliest opportunity;

c). Members welcome and support the redefined URA Vision of consolidating an effective national transformationary revenue collection service;

17. ANTI-CORRUPTION STRUGGLE:

a). Members warmly welcome the presentations on the subject, delivered by Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke and Lt. Col. Emmy Katabazi;

b). Members commit to relentlessly fighting corruption wherever it may manifest itself, and to maximally support all institutions involved in the fight against corruption;

18. LEADERSHIP AND CRITICAL THINKING:

a). Members of the Caucus warmly appreciate the presentation and clarifications on the subject of Leadership and Critical Thinking, delivered by Mr. Paul Odauk;

b). Members of the Caucus commit to contributing to the consolidation of leadership anchored in a deeper and all-round understanding of our Society – at all levels;

19. PATRIOTISM BUILDING: A NATIONAL STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE:

a). Members of the Caucus warmly appreciate the presentation and clarifications on the subject of Patriotism Building, delivered by Maj. Gen. Henry Masiko;

b). Members of the Caucus commit to working to deepen Patriotic values within the Movement and the wider Ugandan society.

20. THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE MEDIA AND THE LEGISLATOR:

a). Members of the Caucus warmly appreciate the presentation and clarifications on the subject of the Changing Role of the Media, delivered by Mr. Ofwono Opondo;

b). Members of the Caucus commit to contributing to strategically coordinated and focused media work – at both personal and institutional levels;

21. MOBILIZATION:

a). Members of the Caucus warmly appreciate the presentation and clarifications on the subject of Mobilization, delivered by Mr. Moses Byaruhanga;

b). Members of the Caucus recognize that ultimately, Mobilization is about correctly identifying the problems of Wananchi, and working to resolve them;

22. FOCUSING ON PARTY DISCIPLINE AND COHESION:

a). Members of the Caucus warmly appreciate the presentation and clarifications on the subject of Party Discipline and Cohesion, delivered by the Secretary-General, Rt. Honourable Richard Todwong;

b). Members of the Caucus warmly welcome and strongly support the call of the Secretary-General, for strengthened discipline in all activities of the NRM and across all its structures;

23. UNDERSTANDING THE NRM AS A LIBERATION MOVEMENT:

a). Members of the Caucus warmly appreciate the presentation and clarifications on the subject of the NRM as a Liberation Movement, delivered by Mr. David Mafabi;

b). Members of the Caucus commit to supporting the strengthening of deliberate and systematic ideological and organizational work – at personal, Movement and wider Society levels; 

24. NUSAF 4:

Members of the Caucus warmly welcome H.E. the President’s Directive to the Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development to expedite the process of funding NUSAF 4 by the World Bank – focused on livelihood improvement of the 39% poor households.