Vice President Jessica Alupo has urged newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) under the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to adopt disciplined lifestyles and avoid extravagance, warning that poor financial decisions could undermine their leadership.
Speaking on the seventh day of the ongoing NRM leaders’ retreat at the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi (NALI), Alupo advised legislators to remain grounded despite their new status.
“They are now VIPs and they should control their expectations,” she said. “They should live within their means and continue working with the population the way they have been working before becoming Members of Parliament.”
Alupo cautioned that public office often comes with increased financial demands and social pressure, which, if not managed carefully, can push leaders into unsustainable debt.
She urged MPs to avoid unnecessary borrowing and prioritise proper financial planning.
“They should exercise financial discipline… plan well and avoid unnecessary borrowing which may lead them into debts which are not sustainable,” she added.
She also encouraged legislators to maintain strong connections with their constituents, noting that effective representation depends on continuous engagement with the electorate.
Beyond personal conduct, the Vice President emphasised the role of mentorship in leadership development, describing it as an ongoing process. She called on both new MPs and experienced leaders within the party to actively participate in mentoring relationships.
“Mentorship is not an activity, it is a process. I encourage them to continue looking out for mentorship, and senior members of the NRM to guide them,” she said.
On parliamentary performance, Alupo expressed optimism that the retreat had equipped especially first-time MPs with the skills needed to effectively articulate national issues and contribute meaningfully to debate.
“From the discipline exhibited here… and the way members have been asking for clarifications, I have very high hopes that the 12th Parliament will be of high quality,” she noted.
She further urged leaders to focus on national priorities such as wealth creation, industrialisation, and improved service delivery, highlighting areas like commercial agriculture, infrastructure development, and anti-corruption efforts as key to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
Alupo also reminded MPs of the need to safeguard Uganda’s achievements since 1986, particularly in peace and security, infrastructure, health, and education.
“All Ugandans should protect the peace and security that we have now so that we can use that peace as a foundation for investment and development,” she said.
The Kyankwanzi retreat continues to serve as a platform for aligning NRM leaders with the party’s manifesto and national development agenda ahead of the new parliamentary term.
