The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, has urged young political leaders to embrace issue-based politics and reject partisan hostility, saying Uganda’s development challenges affect citizens regardless of their political affiliation.
Todwong made the call on Wednesday while addressing the National Youth Symposium at Parliament under the theme "Building Bridges, Shaping the Future: Youth Leadership for National Healing, Accountability, and Inclusive Democracy.”
The symposium, organized by the Ministry of Gender with support from the Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy (NIMD), brought together young leaders from across Uganda’s political spectrum.
Todwong said young politicians should focus on shared national challenges rather than allowing political differences to create hostility among citizens.
“If you dissect the needs of a young person in NRM, it is the same needs of a young person in UPC, DP, and other political parties. You want a better quality of life, better government performance, and an end to corruption. The things you hate are the same. So why should you hate each other?” he asked.
He said national development required cooperation across political parties, noting that Uganda’s public institutions and services are intended to serve all citizens regardless of their political affiliation.
Todwong particularly cautioned against attaching political colours to public infrastructure such as schools, roads, health centres and markets.
“When we build a school and you are enrolling your child in that school, we don't say we only enroll NRM children. No, a school is a school for everybody. A health centre is for everyone. The roads we construct are for everybody. The markets are for everybody,” he said.
He also challenged young voters to scrutinise candidates based on their performance and contribution to Parliament and their communities rather than campaign theatrics or short-term handouts.
Todwong further called for national healing, acknowledging that the NRM, like other institutions, had made mistakes.
“For us, even as a party, we have made mistakes. We do apologize, institutional mistakes, individual mistakes, personal mistakes,” he said, adding that the country could only heal when political actors viewed each other as partners in development," He said.
He welcomed constructive criticism from opposition parties, including the National Unity Platform, Alliance for National Transformation, Uganda People’s Congress and Democratic Party, saying honest scrutiny strengthens leadership.
“I am happy when I am criticized. Even when you have friends, friends who don't tell you the truth are not genuine friends,” Todwong said.