Time for creative disruption of NRM – to reform, rebrand, reshape

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OPINION

By Duncan Abigaba

Uganda, under the leadership of President Kaguta Museveni and the NRM, has made significant progress over the last four decades. The NRM has since 1986 restored peace and security for person and property, expanded the economy twenty-fold, from the net importer of basic commodities to a net exporter of most consumer goods, rivalling Kenya, the regional industrial power house. Our Human Development Index has improved, as evidenced by health, education and wealth creation programmes for all.

The party has also strengthened governance and democracy, ensured regular, free and fair elections, and improved our international standing.

In October 2008, Uganda was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. In June 2009, it chaired the World’s most significant decision-making body — the UN Security Council. Today, we continue to participate in international peacekeeping missions like AUSSOM in Somalia, et al.

In a region historically plagued by insecurity, Uganda has stood out as an island of peace. We have emerged from the ashes of war into an era of relative calm and economic prosperity. The NRM restored law and order, built an economy anchored in institutions like the Uganda Investment Authority, Uganda Revenue Authority, and restored the independence and dignity of the Central Bank.

It restructured our economy from a nationalised, import-dependent model to a liberalised, private-sector-led, export-focused system, and reintegrated Uganda into the global community through the EAC, COMESA, the African Union, the United Nations and its various multilateral institutions.

Uganda’s GDP grew from roughly $3.4 billion in 1986 to $55 billion in 2024. Poverty levels dropped from 56% in 1992 to 16% today, and there has been tremendous investment in infrastructure development, increasing tarmacked roads from 1,000 km to 6,000 km, electricity generation from 60 MW to over 2,000 MW, and rural electrification from less than 5% to over 30% today.

However, it is time to listen to Ugandans, from the urban youth to the rural Maama Mboga. The sense of inclusion in mass programmes, the promise of justice for all, the hope of shared prosperity is all fading. Today, the ordinary citizen is losing their land to wealthy land grabbers usually backed by someone in the security system, public spaces like wetlands have been grabbed while organs of the state look on, and public social services like free public education, free health care are becoming a myth.

The levels of nepotism are alarming. Almost every agency of government is staffed with relatives and friends of the Accounting Officer or Political Supervisor of the agency, qualifications and meritocracy have been thrown out of the window, rendering education and hard work useless.

According to the IGG, the country is losing shillings 10 trillion every year in ghost projects, inflated procurement deals and payroll fraud. The Auditor General’s reports are filled with evidence, but action is slow and sometimes non-existent. The ideals that launched the NRM revolution — a people’s grassroots movement are lost in the new realities, and the country is yearning for a renaissance.

The NRM leadership, once pro-people, charismatic and responsive, has aged — both literally and ideologically. The average age of Uganda’s cabinet is over 60, while 78% of Ugandans are under 35. This generation gap has created a disconnect. Young Ugandans are digital natives, dreaming in code and algorithms, but the government is stuck in yesteryears, evidenced by the cadres deployed in the Ministry of ICT.

We have yet to formulate an artificial intelligence strategy, while the rest of the world is discussing robotaxis, robots and hyperloop tunnels. Whereas the ministry has made some progress, they are far too slow for the pace of global change. That is one example of the fatigue in our system.

The digital space, which should have been a platform for innovation, e-commerce, civic engagement, et al, has been stifled. Facebook has been blocked in Uganda since January 2021 – a platform with over 3 million people at the time of its closure. Although I am a victim of Facebook’s unfair decision, I believe that the continued closure of the platform has silenced voices, stifled small businesses and alienated the digital entrepreneurial youth. While the world embraces digital democracy and artificial intelligence, we are closing doors.

The NRM must choose to continue down the path of stagnation, or to rise again through the process I have called Creative Disruption – a deliberate agenda to Reform, Rebrand and Reshape the party for the future.

Reform – to return to the founding principles of the NRM – Patriotism, Pan Africanism, Democracy and Socio-economic transformation, serviced by discipline and sacrifice. The party must purge corruption from the public institutions, enforce law and order, strengthen anti-corruption agencies and build a zero tolerance to corruption culture. We need to realign government priorities with the needs of ordinary Ugandans—investing in practical education, accessible and affordable healthcare, youth entrepreneurship and emerging technologies.

Rebrand – appreciating that the Uganda of today isn’t the Uganda of 1986. We must shed the image of the liberation-era party and embrace a modern, inclusive identity that speaks to the aspirations of our young people. Rebranding isn’t just logos and slogans – it’s the message and action. We need to refresh our communication channels, embrace pro-youth and tech-savvy leaders, and policies that reflect today’s realities—from e-commerce, the gig economy, to artificial intelligence.

Reshape – to reimagine leadership for the next generation. We must build institutions that are resilient, transparent, and responsive. We must embrace digital government, support innovation hubs, and position Uganda as a leader in African tech. Above all, we must create space for new voices, new leaders, and new ideas. The NRM should not fear renewal—it should embrace it.

This is not a call to abandon the NRM—it is a call to save it from itself. It is a call to honour the sacrifices of those who rebuilt this country by engaging in a liberation struggle 45 years ago, to defeat dictatorship and regression. It is a call to those within the Movement who still believe in its core mission to stand up and be counted.

Supporting me is embracing Creative Disruption — to renew, reform, rebrand, and reshape the Movement back to its core principles while adapting to the contemporary challenges. 

The writer is a former Presidential Assistant and an Aspirant for NRM National Vice Chairperson — Western Region