President Yoweri Museveni has said Africa must cure herself of the victim mentality and take the initiative of shaping her own destiny.

He noted that economic and political integration is the permanent cure for Africa’s weaknesses and marginalisation in the world.

He said this in a speech delivered by his special envoy for special duties, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, at the annual Mwalimu Julius Nyerere symposium that was held at Makerere University on Saturday, October 14.

The symposium was organised by the university’s Julius Nyerere Leadership Centre (JNLC) to celebrate Tanzania’s first President’s Day under the theme: Building a Borderless East African Region.

“We have an unprecedented advantage of a market of 1.3 billion people which has the potential of not only making us richer but also earning us respect in the world as a power to reckon with,” the President stated.  

On his part, Rugunda, who was Uganda’s prime minister from 2014 to 2021, said on X, formerly Twitter, that he enjoyed the vibrant presentations and discussions, especially by young people, at the symposium.

This symposium was youth-focused because of the number of young people in the region and the expectations that it is the youth who will drive and benefit from changes in the structure and focus on economic and societal relationships in the region, according to the JNLC.

“By fostering dialogue, sharing knowledge, and cultivating works, we aim to contribute to a future where geographical borders are no longer barriers, but bridges to shared success and prosperity,” said Dr. Suzie Nansozi Muwanga, the JNLC’s executive director.

The keynote speaker was Stella Agara, the governance and youth development specialist at the MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation in Arusha, Tanzania.