Museveni clarifies remarks on Indian Ocean
Museveni, who was on the campaign trail around the six districts of Busoga, noted that the issue of the Indian Ocean came up when he was emphasising Africa's strategic security.
President Yoweri Museveni said that some countries in the world have a plan to be superior in naval, air and land forces. (File photo)
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President Yoweri Museveni has clarified remarks he made about the utilisation of the Indian Ocean, which is the third-largest body of water on Earth.
This was during his interaction with journalists from the Busoga sub-region during a live radio and TV talk-show at State Lodge in Mayuge district on November 21, 2025.
Museveni, who was on the campaign trail around the six districts of Busoga, noted that the issue of the Indian Ocean came up when he was emphasising Africa's strategic security.
He noted that some countries in the world have a plan to be superior in naval, air and land forces.
“I was saying, when those people get that strength, where does it leave us? How can Uganda build a navy, because we don’t even have access to the ocean? And the countries near the shores may not have that financial capacity. So, that is why I was talking about political federation so that we maximise our potential.”
He said when Kenya’s foreign affairs cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi was in Uganda a day earlier, they discussed that issue.
“Even if we are together in the East African Community, we don’t plan defence together,” he noted, stating that each East African country has got its own defence.
Museveni, who is seeking another five-year term next year, also said while the Americans, Chinese, Russians and Indians are on the Moon, the East Africans are just there watching.
In August 2023, India joined an elite club of countries to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, after the US, the former Soviet Union and China.
“The Americans, the Chinese, the Russians are on the Moon, and now the Indians are also there. The ones here are ourselves. Those people on the Moon are looking at us like insects, like you look at the insects which eat sugar. You can spray them anytime,” Museveni said.
On November 11, 2025, Museveni interacted with journalists from the eastern region at the Mbale city state lodge.
During the interaction, which was live on UBC TV and several radio stations, Museveni hinted at potential conflict over sea access.
"In the future, we are going to have wars..." he said.