In a definitive move to entrench the party’s principles and strengthen institutional structures, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) National Treasurer, Amb. Barbara Nekesa Oundo, has donated prime freehold land to the ruling party for the construction of permanent offices in Busia District.
The strategic gesture serves as a direct investment in the party’s long-term mobilization capacity. Amb. Nekesa officially handed over the freehold land title, measuring 0.111 hectares, to the NRM Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, at the party Secretariat. The land is located in Busia Municipality at Plot 31 along Hadongole Road.
This donation underscores a deep ideological commitment to transition the NRM from a purely electoral machine into a deeply rooted institutional force capable of sustaining its historical gains. For a party celebrating 40 years of stewardship since the 1986 liberation, creating permanent local infrastructure is vital to securing its foundational triumphs.
“I procured this land in July 2011, just a month into the 9th Parliament,” Amb. Nekesa explained. “I later acquired different properties after that and subsequently developed them, but for close to 15 years, this particular one has remained vacant. I think it was meant to host the Party in Busia District. I am, therefore, more than happy to now donate it to where it was destined to be.”
Receiving the title, Rt. Hon. Todwong highly commended the National Treasurer, characterizing the act as a masterclass in revolutionary cadreship and an exemplary showcase of ideological clarity. He emphasized that establishing a permanent home for the party in Busia will provide a centralized hub for continuous ideological mentoring, civic education, and reliable grassroots mobilization.
“You have demonstrated exemplary leadership to the NRM members in Busia and the country at large,” Todwong said.
He emphasized that institutional ownership of assets ensures that the party’s core values, civic mentoring, and close monitoring of government success stories will remain vibrant at the grassroots for generations to come. By securing a permanent physical base, the NRM is better positioned to coordinate village-level party structures, maintain an open-door policy for local cadres, and ensure its core principles remain active for generations to come.
According to Rt. Hon. Todwong, this permanent home in Busia will serve as a launchpad to sustain the undeniable milestones the NRM has achieved for Uganda over the last 40 years:
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- Peace and National Stability: Rebuilt from a collapsed state in 1986, the NRM established an unprecedented era of internal peace and security by building a disciplined, professional army—the UPDF. This unwavering stability turned Uganda from a country that once generated refugees into a regional safe haven.
- Macroeconomic Growth: Over four decades, the economy transitioned through deliberate revitalization and liberalization. Uganda’s GDP expanded nearly fifteenfold—climbing from $3.9 billion in 1986 to approximately $54 billion—consistently placing it among the IMF’s fastest-growing global economies.
- Infrastructure Revolution: The national paved road network expanded from a mere 1,300 kilometers in 1986 to over 6,000 kilometers, bridging rural economies with major urban hubs.
- Human Capital & Social Devolution: The NRM democratized access to advancement by expanding higher education from just one university (Makerere) to more than 50 nationwide. At the same time, life expectancy steadily climbed from around 48 years into the mid-to-late sixties.
- Empowering the Grassroots: From early wealth-creation models to the current Parish Development Model (PDM), the party has consistently driven resources directly to village-level households to lift Ugandans out of the subsistence economy.
