President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on university student leaders to lead with a strong focus on generating wealth, maintaining clear ideological principles, and promoting peaceful leadership.

He stressed that young leaders must thoroughly analyze societal challenges and propose practical solutions instead of relying on dependency.

The President delivered the message during a meeting with representatives of the Inter-University Guild Leaders Network at State Lodge, Nakasero.

He urged them to base their leadership on careful analysis, accountability, and productive action.

Comparing society to a medical patient, President Museveni explained: “Society is like medicine because a doctor looks at a patient and says what is this patient suffering from? That’s what politics should be and even you people should understand what are the problems of your society.”

Reflecting on his own time as a student, he credited the study of political economy with helping him and his contemporaries grasp how societies develop and how effective leadership must address genuine issues.

The President reiterated the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) long-standing ideological emphasis on wealth creation, cautioning against fostering a mindset of reliance on others.

“We must have a society of wealth creators, not parasites,” he declared. “Once you are a wealth creator, you become responsible. Families of wealth creators build a strong society.”

Drawing from his personal background as a cattle keeper, he highlighted the critical role of markets, national patriotism, and regional economic integration in achieving prosperity. He noted that production alone is insufficient without access to broader markets.

“That is why NRM talks about patriotism, love Uganda because you need it for your own good,” he said. “And when Uganda’s internal market is not enough, you need the East African market. That is why you must love Africa for your prosperity.”

President Museveni described ideology as a systematic framework for interpreting society and guiding decisions across political, social, and economic spheres.

He firmly warned against combining ideological conviction with violence. “You cannot have ideology in your head and then go for violence,” he stated. “Violence destroys what you and others have jointly built through taxes.”

He likened confrontation to surgery—something to be employed only when all other approaches have failed, and even then, it must be precise and deliberate rather than indiscriminate.

The President also advised the student leaders to leverage digital tools and mass communication channels for outreach and mobilization.

“Use social media and other remote means like radios and SMS to communicate and mobilize,” he recommended.

On behalf of the Inter-University Guild Leaders Network, James Ssentamu explained that the meeting centered on exploring how student leadership could deliver tangible benefits to both universities and the nation at large.

“The idea is to see how best we can benefit students from our universities as well as the country,” Mr. Ssentamu said.

He reaffirmed the network’s dedication to fostering peace, stability, and constructive dialogue across universities and other tertiary institutions.

The gathering included guild presidents from several institutions, among them Makerere University, Gulu University, Uganda Christian University, Kyambogo University, Makerere University Business School, Ankole University, Rubirizi Institute, Medcare Health Professionals, and additional participating colleges.