State of the Nation: Museveni highlights national milestones

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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has launched the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), which outlines Uganda's development agenda for the period 2025/26 to 2029/30.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni launching the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV). (Miriam Namutebi)

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni posing for a photo moment with other government officials after launching the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV). (Miriam Namutebi)

The unveiling was one of the major activities as Museveni delivered the 2025 State of the Nation Address today, June 5, 2025, at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala.

The President started his speech by highlighting the country’s economic strength and security situation. President Museveni emphasised that Uganda's economy is strong, attributing this to various government initiatives aimed at economic transformation. He also stated that the security situation in Uganda is "generally calm," acknowledging some challenges but affirming overall stability.

He commended the youth engagement in national development, referring to them as "Bazzukulu," and praised them for positively utilising the peace and tranquillity in the country to improve their lives and those of their families. The President led the nation in observing a moment of silence in memory of individuals who passed away in the past year, including notable figures and ordinary citizens.

“Since the last State of the Nation Address, a number of people have unfortunately departed from this earth. They include his holiness the late Pope Francis, the late MP Mohammed Ssegirinya, among others.”

NRM as a ‘wise man’

The President referred to the parable of two builders according to the Gospel in Matthew chapter 7, verses 24 to 27, where Jesus talked about two kinds of builders: the wise builder who built his house on the rock and the foolish builder who built his house on sand.

“When the rain, floods and wind came upon both houses, the house of the foolish man was swept away because its foundation was weak, while the one the wise man remained standing as its foundation was firm and strong,” the president said, noting that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) can be likened to the wise man referred to in the Bible.

“Because we have been able to establish the necessary foundation to catapult Uganda to modernity based on the four principles ideology. The principles are patriotism-love Uganda, Pan Africanism-Love Africa, socio-economic transformation and democracy,” he said, noting that the aim of this ideology is to guarantee the social uplift of all segments of the society, and not just a few elites.

MPs having a light moment at the State of the Nation address.

Dignitaries listening to the state of the nation address.

National Milestones

He hinted at programs such as UPE (Universal Primary Education) and universal secondary education (USE), the mass immunisation campaigns, operation wealth creation (OWC), Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, etc, which he said have led significant improvements in the quality of life in Uganda.

He also said that life expectancy in Uganda is now 63 years, compared to 45 years in 1945 and 1986, meaning that Ugandans live longer in 1986.

President Museveni noted that Uganda's population was only 14 million almost 4 decades ago, but that the national population census concluded recently showed that Uganda's population is now over 46 million people, with the literacy rate improving from 43% in 1986 to 80% now.

“In 1986, more than 90% of the population was trapped in subsistence farming-working only for food, with no surplus to take to the market to get money. There has been a significant reduction in the percentage of households in subsistence agriculture. They are now 33%,” the president noted.

More details to follow, with the President’s full speech