The NRM Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, has called on leaders to become catalysts for wealth creation in their communities, urging them to go beyond political mobilisation and champion economic transformation among the people they lead.
Speaking to the Namuwongo and Bukasa NRM parish leaders yesterday at the Labour College of East Africa, Namuwongo Campus, Todwong addressed the everyday challenges faced by urban dwellers, especially in informal settlements, and the urgent need for local leaders to provide practical solutions.
“There is a difference between a leader, the people, and the problems they face. As leaders, your thinking must be different. You are the ones expected to guide the people out of poverty,” Todwong emphasised.
Drawing from examples in Namuwongo, once a haven for criminals, Todwong credited improved security and leadership for transforming the area but noted that underlying social problems persist. “All these crimes, domestic violence, land wrangles—they are symptoms of a deeper issue. That issue is poverty,” he said.
He emphasised that the NRM’s decentralised system of governance was designed to empower local leaders to effectively respond to grassroots needs. He challenged LC1s and other local officials to know the economic activities in their areas and design interventions that improve livelihoods.
The meeting attracted over 200 local leaders from the two parishes.