“All non-performers must leave leadership,” he declared, adding that effective leadership requires commitment rather than constant demands for facilitation.
KAMPALA — President Yoweri Museveni has warned leaders against poor performance and corruption, urging them to play a more active role in driving Uganda’s transformation into a fully commercialized economy.
Delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address at Kololo Independence Grounds on Thursday, Museveni said Uganda’s development agenda can only succeed if leaders demonstrate discipline, accountability and commitment to guiding citizens into productive economic activities.
Addressing Parliament, government officials and the wider public through a hybrid session, the President emphasized that the country’s future depends on expanding participation in the money economy and eliminating inefficiencies that continue to undermine progress.
He began by thanking Ugandans for participating in the electoral process since January and for supporting the National Resistance Movement (NRM), before turning his attention to what he described as the country’s most pressing challenge—ensuring that every household engages in wealth creation.
“Above all, I thank God for all these victories and for the peace in the country in spite of so many evil people that have been plotting to disturb the peace,” Museveni said.
President Museveni also clarified his recent call for “no more sleep,” saying the message had been misunderstood by some sections of the public.
“Some people are already distorting it as just ‘no sleep.’ To clarify the message: it means no more sleep, no more corruption, no more diversions, no more politeness for non-performers who want leadership positions for ego and personal intentions,” he explained.
Museveni argued that Uganda’s development journey has always centered on moving citizens away from subsistence living and into market-oriented production. He said this vision dates back to economic debates of the 1960s and later became a central pillar of the NRM’s 10-point programme.
Reflecting on his early years of mobilization in the cattle corridor, the President said efforts to encourage pastoral communities to adopt settled commercial farming had produced significant gains. He cited the growth of dairy farming in areas such as Nyabushozi as evidence that transformation is possible when communities embrace commercial production.
According to Museveni, national milk production has grown from approximately 200 million litres in 1986 to 5.4 billion litres today, a development he attributed to improved livestock breeds and modern farming practices.
“That was all. They converted their indigenous Ankole cattle into half-breeds with the Friesians and they took off,” he said.
The President noted that these changes were initially met with skepticism, but maintained that the results have vindicated the government’s long-standing strategy of promoting commercial agriculture.
He said government interventions such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) and Operation Wealth Creation were established to help households generate income and participate in the wider economy.
However, he stressed that such programmes can only achieve their intended goals if they are implemented effectively and managed responsibly.
Museveni also highlighted investments in infrastructure, describing roads, electricity and transport networks as critical foundations for industrial growth and access to markets.
He noted that Uganda’s electricity generation capacity has increased from about 60 megawatts in 1986 to more than 2,000 megawatts today, helping to support industrialization and economic expansion.
The President further pointed to improvements in gross domestic product, poverty reduction, life expectancy and export earnings, saying Uganda has progressed into a lower middle-income economy through decades of recovery, diversification and value addition.
Despite these gains, Museveni said Uganda must continue pursuing regional and continental integration to secure larger markets for its growing production capacity.
“Africa’s future depends on integration,” he said, arguing that wider markets are necessary to sustain long-term economic growth.
The President reserved some of his strongest remarks for leaders whom he accused of failing to deliver results.
“Either you lead or you stay in your home. I hear of leaders talking about allowances to reach their people and mobilise them against poverty; I get nauseous,” he said.
He criticized what he termed a culture of dependency among some public officials and called for greater personal initiative in serving communities.
“All non-performers must leave leadership,” he declared, adding that effective leadership requires commitment rather than constant demands for facilitation.
Museveni concluded by urging leaders at all levels to focus on ensuring that government programmes produce measurable improvements in household incomes and contribute to Uganda’s long-term economic transformation.
Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah Oboth-Oboth reminded lawmakers of the constitutional significance of the State of the Nation Address and called on Members of Parliament to prioritize the interests of their constituents as they begin the new legislative session.
The Speaker also reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s ambition of expanding the economy to a projected value of USD 500 billion.
The event was attended by Vice President Jessica Alupo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament and other senior government officials.
