Newly elected Members of Parliament under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) have been fully grounded in the party’s ideology and governance priorities following a week-long retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, the party’s Director of Information and Publicity, Emmanuel Dombo, has said.
Speaking on Sunday, Dombo said the retreat was convened to align both NRM MPs and independent legislators who lean towards the party with the NRM manifesto and the national development agenda.
He explained that the orientation was necessary to ensure leaders clearly understand their role in delivering on the party’s commitments to Ugandans.
“When members were elected, including those who are independent but NRM-leaning, we brought them here to align their thinking with the manifesto so that, as leaders, they contribute effectively to delivering on the commitments of the party,” Dombo said.
He noted that the retreat has covered key thematic areas, beginning with the ideological foundations of the NRM, including its historical background and how it has maintained political leadership for nearly four decades.
Participants were also taken through parliamentary procedures and operations by leaders from Parliament, including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Clerk, to better prepare them for legislative duties.
Dombo added that legislators were introduced to key government frameworks such as the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which targets growing Uganda’s economy from about 68 billion US dollars to 500 billion US dollars in the coming years.
“The members needed to understand what government plans to do and what role they must play to support that transformation,” he said.
He further noted that the retreat featured presentations from key institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, the National Planning Authority, and the Office of the Prime Minister, all aimed at equipping MPs with knowledge on policy implementation and service delivery.
According to Dombo, the retreat will conclude on Tuesday with a visit to Ngoma Farm, where resolutions from the sessions will be read and adopted.
Beyond formal sessions, he highlighted additional activities such as ecumenical prayers, where leaders from different faiths prayed together, and a contribution of about Shs 3.2 million raised by members to support a community school at the institute.
Participants also engaged in daily physical exercises, which Dombo said are intended to promote good health and reduce long-term medical costs in line with broader national development goals.
He emphasized that the retreat has strengthened cohesion among legislators, many of whom were meeting for the first time despite coming from different parts of the country.
“Over the days we have been here, members now know each other, have debated together, and gained a clear understanding of how government works,” he said.
Dombo expressed confidence that the shared orientation will improve coordination and efficiency in Parliament, making it easier for both the party and government to implement programmes.
“With this common understanding, work will be easier for the presiding officers, smoother for the party, and faster for government,” he said.
He added that the ultimate goal is to improve service delivery to Ugandans and strengthen the party’s performance in future elections.
