NRM’s Slogan of “Protecting the Gains”, A Contradiction in Uganda’s Reality

By Male Deogratius Inspired By DavidLRubongoya

The National Resistance Movement (NRM), Uganda’s ruling party since 1986 under President Yoweri Museveni, has often employed the slogan “Protecting the Gains” as a central theme in its political messaging. This phrase is intended to emphasize achievements such as relative stability, economic growth, and expanded infrastructure during the NRM’s tenure. However, a closer examination of governance, service delivery, and human rights in Uganda raises the question of whether the reality aligns with the slogan.

Corruption and Mismanagement

One of the most persistent challenges facing Uganda is corruption. Transparency International’s 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index ranked Uganda at 26/100, placing it among the most corrupt countries worldwide. Reports from the Inspectorate of Government indicate that Uganda loses over UGX 10 trillion annually to corruption and mismanagement of public resources.

Several scandals illustrate this pattern, including the misuse of COVID-19 relief funds, the Karamoja iron sheets scandal involving senior ministers, and inflated costs in public procurement projects. These cases highlight systemic weaknesses in accountability and oversight, undermining both public trust and effective service delivery.

Service Delivery and Social Sectors

Education

While the introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE) in 1997 was hailed as a major achievement, its sustainability remains questionable. According to the World Bank (2022), Uganda’s completion rate for primary education is below 40%, with high pupil-teacher ratios—sometimes exceeding 1:70 in rural areas. Infrastructure challenges, low teacher motivation due to delayed salaries, and inadequate learning materials continue to undermine progress.

Healthcare

Uganda’s healthcare sector faces chronic underfunding. Government expenditure on health stands at around 6% of GDP, below the Abuja Declaration target of 15%. Public health facilities are frequently characterized by medicine stockouts, equipment shortages, and understaffing. The Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) 2022 highlights that maternal mortality remains high at 284 deaths per 100,000 live births, and access to specialized care is limited, especially in rural areas.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure development has been a key priority under the NRM, with major investments in roads, dams, and oil infrastructure. While projects like the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway and Karuma Hydropower Dam represent significant capital investments, they have also been marred by allegations of inflated costs and questionable loan sustainability. Uganda’s public debt reached UGX 97.5 trillion (USD 25.5 billion) by 2024, raising concerns over long-term fiscal stability.

Human Rights and Governance

Human rights remain a contentious area under NRM governance. Reports from Human Rights Watch (2023) and the Uganda Human Rights Commission document cases of arbitrary arrests, torture, and suppression of political dissent. The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, which introduced severe penalties for same-sex relations, drew widespread international condemnation and resulted in sanctions and aid cuts from development partners.

Freedom of expression and assembly are also under strain. Journalists and opposition figures frequently face harassment, arrests, or censorship, limiting civic space and raising concerns about Uganda’s democratic trajectory.

The Contradiction of the Slogan

While the NRM highlights stability, economic growth, and infrastructure as “gains,” these are counterbalanced by widespread corruption, weak service delivery, and human rights violations. President Museveni himself acknowledged systemic inefficiencies, once remarking that Uganda’s governance “system is dead.” Such admissions underscore the contradiction between political rhetoric and lived reality for many citizens.

The slogan “Protecting the Gains” reflects the NRM’s attempt to consolidate legitimacy by emphasizing achievements since 1986. However, empirical evidence suggests that these gains are fragile, unevenly distributed, and undermined by structural governance challenges. Unless significant reforms are undertaken to strengthen accountability, improve service delivery, and safeguard human rights, the slogan risks being perceived less as a reflection of reality and more as a political tool detached from Uganda’s socio-economic conditions.