14/07/2026
A DECADE LATER AT NALI-KYANKWANZI.
By; Mr Resistor of Uganda 🇺🇬🇺🇬
"Why the Regeneration of the NRM Cannot Wait."
Returning to the National Leadership Institute (NALI) Kyankwanzi after ten years was more than a nostalgic journey, it was a moment of reflection, learning and renewed conviction. Walking through the institution that helped shape my ideological outlook reminded me that strong political movements are not sustained by chance, they endure through deliberate mentorship, principled leadership, and continuous investment in their own people.
One lesson stood out clearly. A political organization risks weakening itself when it neglects the cadres it has patiently nurtured while placing greater emphasis on recruiting from outside its ranks. Welcoming new members is healthy and necessary for any vibrant movement, but it should never come at the expense of those who have remained committed through years of sacrifice and service!
A tree cannot flourish if its roots are neglected. You cannot cut the roots while continuing to water the branches & bexpect a lasting harvest. Likewise, you cannot plant a good seed, nurture it with patience, remove the weeds around it and then uproot it just as it begins to bear fruit because of the excitement surrounding a new variety!
Sustainable leadership is built through continuity, mentorship, and institutional memory, not quick shortcuts.
Our elders wisely say in Runyakitara, "Noyombeka kandi orukushenya"-literally meaning that, "You build as you destroy." It is a powerful reminder that institutions can unintentionally undermine themselves if they fail to protect the very foundations upon which they were built!
I firmly believe that the future of the National Resistance Movement-NRM, lies in the three(3) RS;. "REGENERATION, REVIVAL, and REFORM." These are not slogans but strategic imperatives.
The Movement 'MUST' continue welcoming those joining from other political backgrounds with open minds & goodwill, while equally protecting, mentoring, and strategically positioning its loyal cadres. Leadership development is not an event; it is a disciplined process that demands patience, consistency, humility, and time.
During my visit, I quietly separated from my team for over an hour to observe, reflect and think critically about the journey of our Movement and our country. I also had the privilege of reconnecting with two colleagues from my 2016 intake and two of our former instructors. Meeting `Afande Chapa Chapa` once again brought back memories of the values, discipline, and patriotism that NALI seeks to instill in every participant.
As I left Kyankwanzi, one conviction became even stronger, the responsibility of preserving & strengthening the NRM does not rest with its founders alone. It belongs to every generation that inherits it. "Our duty is not merely to preserve the Movement but to regenerate it, reform it where necessary, and revive its founding ideals so that it remains relevant for generations to come."
That is how we shall honour the foundation laid by our elders-not by replacing it, but by strengthening it. And that is how we shall build a stronger NRM and a better Uganda that works for all.