Every day, Ugandans wake up to a ringing of the name Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda and Chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
A few, if any, have taken time to study each letter of that name to attach leadership relevance and meaning to them.
On Monday, September 29, 2025, two Lango men: Ocen Denis, 33, from Abako sub-county in Alebtong district and Okao Joel, 46, from Lira City, attempted to give a unique meaning to each letter in the game YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI.
In their view, the name of the President of Uganda is a reflection of his life, character and work in his service to the country.
The two men, one preferring to remain anonymous, said Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is a reflection of bold, courageous, clear-headed and compassionate leadership, who took Uganda from decades of conflict and mismanagement and turned it into a thriving country on the hill.
Each letter of the name comes with an example. Therefore, YOWERI stands for:
Y – Yielding positive and sustainable change. They cited initiatives like the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) as evidence of placing the country on an irreversible path of progress.
O – Outstanding leadership and service to the country. They praised the President’s leadership in navigating major crises, including conflicts with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that the country emerged stronger and better.
W – Wise governance and decision-making. They highlighted the smooth transition from a single-party system to multi-party politics and from a state-led to a private-sector-led economy.
E – Empowering citizens through sustainable pro-poor investment funding models such as the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), the Parish Development Model (PDM), and NUSAF which have been key to creating economic opportunities for the poor, hence creating the jobs the country’s youth need.
R – Resilient and Resolute in the face of enormous challenges the country has gone through over the decades. They cited the President’s unyielding determination in maintaining Uganda’s peace and stability, and the pursuit of peace and security across the African continent.
I – Innovative and Indomitable in addressing Uganda’s development challenges such as the youth bulge and relentless demand for more jobs. Instead of looking at the youth bulge as a political threat, the President has turned it into a strength, expanding opportunities through formal education, vocationalization and skilling of the country’s young people.
KAGUTA, stands for:
K – Keen understanding of global geopolitics. This is reflected in the President’s relentless quest for East African and African integration through the East African Community and the African Union.
A – An Advocate for the needs and welfare of Ugandans, championing initiatives like the Emyooga program.
G – Guiding the country towards prosperity through bold and courageous leadership and long-term plans like the National Development Plan (NDP), and investments in infrastructure and human capital development.
U – Uniting Ugandans across different regions and backgrounds, regardless of tribe, gender, religion and socio-economic status.
T – Transforming Uganda’s economy and infrastructure through massive investments in roads and energy sectors, which have made the country an attractive destination for private capital.
A – Accountable and transparent leadership, evidenced by strong institutions such as the Office of the Auditor General, the Inspectorate of Government, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, among others.
According to Okao and Ocen, MUSEVENI stands for:
M – Masterminding Uganda’s economic recovery and transformation from the ruins of the 1980s to the thriving economy we now live in. This did not happen on its own. It took careful and concerted leadership to navigate complex local, regional and international policies and economic interests to ensure Uganda emerged as a country that is admired, respected and envied in the global community of nations.
U – Understanding the needs of the people, hence the implementation of social interventions such as the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) and other similar initiatives meant to relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for Ugandans.
S – Serving the nation with dedication and ensuring Security and Stability, domestically, in the region and across the African Continent.
E – Enhancing Uganda’s regional and global standing. This has enabled the country to attract not only private capital, but also opportunities to host major international gatherings such as CHOGM, NAM and AU summits.
V – Visionary leadership, articulating a clear vision for the future of Uganda through Vision 2040, NDP 4, and other long-term strategic plans to propel the country to greater heights
E – Empowering the country’s youth, women and other Special Interest Groups such as PWDs through legislation and targeted interventions such as the GROW project, investment in their health, and interventions to equip them with solid education and skills to ensure they can compete and thrive in a fiercely competitive world.
N – Nurturing a stable and secure country which provides an environment in which citizens can live and thrive
I – Inspiring national unity and social cohesion by rejecting discrimination and bigotry.
According to the two men, YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI is therefore not just a name, but encapsulates the President’s service to this country we all love.
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