When President Museveni and his National Resistance Army (NRA) captured Kampala on January 26, 1986, they promised a ‘fundamental change’ from decades of coups, economic collapse, and State violence.
Forty years later, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party remains in power, making it one of Africa’s longest-ruling political movements and Museveni the most consequential post-independence leader in Uganda. Mr Museveni’s grip on power was reaffirmed in the just-concluded January 15 presidential election, where he secured a seventh elective term after garnering 71.65 percent of the total votes cast. Daily Monitor takes a snap-look into the 40 years of the NRM, detailing its achievements and misses.
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Economy
Uganda’s economy remains strong and resilient, with the government projecting accelerated growth over the medium term, driven largely by oil and gas production and sustained macroeconomic stability. The country was recently ranked seventh by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) among the world’s fastest-growing economies. In the 2025/2026 Financial Year, the economy is projected to grow by seven percent, rising to an average of at least eight percent annually over the next five years. With the onset of commercial oil and gas production expected in 2026, the government projects double-digit growth, including a 10.4 percent expansion in the 2026/2027 financial year.
In nominal terms, Uganda’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated at Shs251.4 trillion (about $69.6 billion) in 2025/2026, while income per capita is projected to rise to $1,393 (Shs4.9 million), up from $1,263 (Shs4.4 million) last year. Export earnings grew by 26 per cent to $9.3 billion in the 12 months to March 2025. The shilling remains Africa’s most stable currency, appreciating by 6.1 per cent over the past year, supported by strong foreign direct investment, export growth, remittances, and disciplined monetary policy. Inflation stands at 3.6 per cent, among the lowest on the continent. Government attributes the growth outlook to targeted interventions, including capitalisation of the Uganda Development Bank, the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, and expanded support to small businesses, alongside improved revenue mobilisation and economic diversification.
Education
The NRM government introduced Universal Primary Education (UPE) in 1997, which abolished school fees and dramatically increased primary school enrolment from 2.2 million children in 1986 to over 5.3 million by 1997, and to more than 8 million in subsequent years. The government later introduced Universal Secondary Education (USE) to accommodate the increasing number of UPE graduates, further expanding access to education. Enrolment in secondary schools and universities has grown substantially over the decades. University enrolment, for example, rose from 5,390 students in 1986 to over 2 million by 2025, largely attributed to the increased number of universities.
The country, which had only one university in 1986, now has 12 public universities and about 45 private ones across all major regions. In addition, the number of schools has increased significantly, with efforts to ensure every parish has a government primary school and every sub-county a government seed secondary school. The government has progressively increased teacher numbers and salaries across different levels of education, especially for science teachers, aiming to improve teacher attendance and motivation.
A new competence-based curriculum for lower secondary education was rolled out in 2020, shifting focus from memorisation to the practical application of knowledge. Further, the government introduced the ‘Skilling the Girl Child’ programme that aims to empower underprivileged and vulnerable girls aged 15-30 with free, practical vocational skills such as tailoring, hairdressing, baking, and weaving to foster self-reliance, create jobs, reduce poverty, and enable them to start their own businesses, thereby boosting economic independence and improving community livelihoods.
Infrastructure
Uganda’s road network has undergone significant expansion and modernisation since the 1990s, transforming transport and trade across the country.
Today, the national road network spans over 170,000 kilometres, including paved highways, major feeder roads, and urban roads connecting all regions.
Key infrastructure projects under the NRM government include the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway, the Northern Bypass, Jinja-Kampala highway upgrades, and numerous district and rural road improvements. These have enhanced accessibility, reduced travel times, and supported economic activity, particularly in agriculture, trade, and tourism.
Investments in bridges, including the high-tech Jinja Bridge, are among the flagship infrastructure projects the government highlights, unlike before the 1990s, when Uganda’s road network was limited and in poor condition, with many rural areas inaccessible, especially during rainy seasons. Paved roads were also concentrated around major towns and Kampala, while most districts depended on deteriorating gravel roads.
Energy
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development recently indicated that electricity generation has increased from about 150 megawatts in 1986 to more than 2,000 megawatts today. In 1986, the entire country had only one hydropower plant, Nalubaale (formerly Owen Falls Dam), with a maximum generation capacity of 150 megawatts. But the country now has four large hydropower plants at Nalubaale, Kiira, Isimba, and Karuma, with a combined generation capacity of 1,163.2 megawatts.
Other small power plants across the country have added another 888.8 megawatts, bringing the installed electricity generation capacity to 2,052 megawatts.
Government plans to commence investment in new hydropower plants at Ayago in Nwoya District (840 megawatts), Kiba in Oyam District (400 megawatts), and Oriang in Nwoya District (382 megawatts). Funding for these power plants was included in the 2025/2026 national budget. With oil and gas production expected to commence in 2026, the government projects a new phase of growth, although concerns remain over debt, governance, and environmental risks.
Security
The general security situation in Uganda remains calm, with national borders largely secure, except for spillover effects from conflicts in eastern the DR Congo, South Sudan, the Sudan, and Somalia. These challenges include the influx of refugees and asylum seekers, illegal immigration, and the proliferation of small arms. The capacity of national security agencies, including the Uganda Police Force, and the Internal Security Organisation, supported by the UPDF, has been strengthened to combat crime and safeguard Ugandans. Joint FARDC-UPDF operations against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in eastern DRC are ongoing and have recorded significant achievements.
Health
Health Uganda’s health sector has seen significant improvements since 1986, with the government investing heavily in infrastructure, services, and human resources. Health facilities now include Health Centre IIIs in every sub-county, Health Centre IVs in each constituency, district hospitals in every district, and regional referral hospitals. Key institutions include Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kawempe National Referral Hospital, the Uganda Heart Institute, and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital.
Kawempe and Mulago also provide specialised maternal and neonatal care, supporting reproductive health and reducing maternal mortality. The government has also heavily invested in the Uganda Cancer Institute and two regional cancer centres, the Uganda Heart Institute, as well as intensive care units and imaging centres at referral hospitals. Preventive healthcare, immunisation programmes, and community outreach have strengthened access to quality healthcare nationwide.
Misses
Despite notable gains, challenges persist.
Corruption
Corruption continues to drain public resources, with the most recent IGG report estimating the country lost about Shs9.1 trillion to graft annually between July 2023 and June 2024. The report highlights widespread bribery, embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, and abuse of office across ministries, departments, and local governments. High-profile investigations have included dozens of cases involving government agencies such as the Uganda Revenue Authority and Kampala Capital City Authority, with recommendations to recover billions of shillings. Long-standing scandals continue to resonate. The controversial Temangalo land saga, in which the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) acquired land under disputed circumstances, has been a subject of public debate for years.
The Karamoja iron sheets scandal saw government officials implicated in the diversion of relief materials meant for vulnerable communities, with ministers charged over missing roofing materials. The Chogm scandal remains one of the most high-profile corruption cases in Uganda’s recent history. It centred on alleged financial misconduct during preparations for the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where audits and parliamentary inquiries reported hundreds of millions of dollars were lost or unaccounted for amid accusations of inflated budgets, irregular contracts, and mismanagement. While some stolen resources have been recovered, corruption continues to erode public trust, reduce service delivery, and divert funds from key sectors such as health, education and infrastructure.
Unemployment
Unemployment remains a major socio-economic challenge, particularly among the youth, according to the latest Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) findings. The national unemployment rate stands at about 12.3 percent, equivalent to around 1.4 million Ugandans aged 15 and above without work but actively seeking employment. Uganda’s labour market is struggling to absorb the growing number of graduates entering the job each year. Some 700,000 students graduate from universities and tertiary institutions annually, yet only between 90,000 and 238,000 secure formal employment.
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Political intolerance
Politically, the NRM’s longevity has generated controversy among the public. The 1995 Constitution initially entrenched democratic safeguards, including presidential term limits, which were later removed in 2005. The political landscape began to shift in the mid-2000s. In 2005, Parliament removed presidential term limits, clearing the way for Museveni to run indefinitely. The following year, multiparty politics was reintroduced, ending the Movement System but ushering in a more competitive and contentious electoral era.
Opposition parties emerged more visibly, particularly the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and later the National Unity Platform (NUP). Elections since 2006 have been regularly held but consistently disputed, with Opposition candidates alleging intimidation, vote-rigging, and abuse of state resources. Critics argue that while the NRM has maintained relative stability, the political space for Opposition, civil society, and independent media has often been restricted. From the 1980s onward, measures such as arrests of political opponents, restrictions on party activities, and limits on press freedom have been reported, but often justified in the name of national security.
High-profile Opposition figures, including the NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, and former FDC party presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye, who has been in prison since last year, have faced harassment and arrests, reflecting a long-standing pattern of suppressing dissent. Observers say while Uganda has held regular elections, the credibility and fairness of some of the polls have been questioned, and internal party dominance by the NRM has often limited genuine political competition.
The bad in education and health
While the NRM government has recorded achievements in education and health, significant gaps remain, affecting service quality and access. The challenges include overcrowded classrooms, insufficient teaching materials, and understaffed schools, particularly in rural areas. Although Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) expanded enrolment, many schools struggle to maintain quality due to low teacher motivation, poor infrastructure, and limited supervision.
The country has experienced rampant teacher strikes, especially from the arts teachers, while salaries for their science counterparts were increased at their expense. Technical and vocational education has not kept pace with labour market demands, contributing to a mismatch between graduate skills and available jobs. Additionally, student performance in national examinations remains uneven, reflecting persistent inequalities in regions. In the health sector, Uganda continues to face shortages of medical personnel, stock-outs of essential drugs, and inadequate health infrastructure, especially in rural communities.
President Museveni has acknowledged this problem and indicated he is going to fight drug theft in health facilities to address this challenge. Despite investments in referral hospitals and specialised institutes, maternal and child mortality rates remain high, and many health centres lack functioning equipment. The uneven distribution of health workers and services exacerbates inequalities, leaving vulnerable populations underserved. Observers argue that while reforms have expanded access, the focus on quantity over quality continues to limit meaningful human development.
Poverty
The latest Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) shows that Uganda’s national poverty rate declined to 16.1 percent in 2023/24 from 20.3 percent in 2019/20, signalling notable progress in reducing income poverty. This translates to about 7 million Ugandans still living below the absolute poverty line of $1 per day (about Shs3,500).
Rural areas bear the brunt of deprivation, with 19.4 percent in poverty, compared to 10.3 percent in urban centres. However, stark regional disparities persist, with Karamoja recording a 74.2 percent poverty rate, the highest in the country.
In sum, as Uganda marks 40 years of NRM party rule, the debate has moved beyond liberation. The central question is whether a movement borne out of rebellion can successfully manage renewal, institutional strength, and eventual transition in a youthful, rapidly changing society.