Museveni urges army to promote prosperity, strategic security

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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officers and students undergoing various courses at the Armoured Warfare Training School - Karama, Mubende District, to protect Uganda from the divisive politics of identity, which he says undermines national unity.

He also urged them to engage in the country’s socio-economic transformation by promoting prosperity through the production of goods and services.

Delivering a lecture of opportunity on Tuesday (June 10) at State House Entebbe, the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF cited the harmful impact of identity politics in most African nations, notably the historical fall of Africa to colonialists that resulted in a significant political and economic decline.

“In the last 500 years, Africa has been through so many problems: slave trade, colonialism, and neo-colonialism. All this was happening because the governance of Africa was weak and lagged, consequently allowing Europeans to take control," he said.

(PPU)

Museveni underlined the importance of discussing the UPDF’s role as an instrument of revolution in Uganda and Africa, emphasising the need for attendees to understand this mission.

He took them through the historic European colonisation of Africa, hinting at its negative impact on African economic development, Uganda inclusive, and urged them to focus on national interests.

He pointed out that upon coming to power, the NRM Government revived the economy by introducing three historic missions (prosperity, strategic security, and brotherhood) and four ideological principles (patriotism, pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy).

The President also urged the army officers to rethink prosperity through self-sufficiency, saying that true economic growth does not depend on aid but on local production and entrepreneurship.

“You can’t get prosperous from aid, if we were to get prosperous, Africa would be rich. Even other countries like Latin America have been getting aid but they are very poor.

"The only way you can get prosperous is to produce a good or a service, and you sell it with ekibaro, and this will help you to get good money to live a better life.”

Army officers during the lecture. (PPU)

Museveni further warned the officers against tribalism and emphasised the need to expand markets beyond Uganda to ensure economic prosperity, advocating for a Pan-African and patriotic approach.

He cautioned that producing similar products without sufficient market creation could lead to oversaturation and devalue those goods.

“For instance, if you go to Orom, you'll find that everyone is producing simsim. However, Opio cannot buy from Ochen, and Ochen cannot buy from Opio. So, who will rescue them? The people of Kampala, who do not produce simsim,” he said.

“Currently, Uganda is producing 700,000 metric tonnes of sugar, yet the entire country consumes only about 300,000 metric tonnes, leaving a surplus of 400,000 metric tonness. This means that the sugar market is more of a Ugandan market than solely a Busoga market, where sugarcanes are produced.”

Similarly, the President said that dairy production is at 5.4 billion litres, with domestic consumption of only 800 million litres, resulting in a surplus of four billion litres.

Uganda has exported 2,100 metric tonnes of high-quality powdered milk to Algeria, highlighting its growing market potential.

He encouraged the participants to work towards a deeper appreciation for Uganda, East Africa, and Africa in order to create a wider market and seize opportunities within the continent.

Museveni further clarified that it is important to avoid tribalism much as tribes are significant, and focus on unity.

“While tribal groups can collectively produce high-quality products, they may struggle to purchase large volumes.”

(PPU)

On the issue of sustainable development, the President noted that as Uganda's economy advances, the call for innovation and progress should become increasingly crucial to foster economic transformation. 

He said families must transition from relying on manual labour and embrace skilled work and machinery, emphasising sustainable development, likening it to a pregnancy that involves change and growth.

“All families in Uganda must undergo an economic transformation, from using human manual muscle to do work, which is the problem in Africa. We need to shift from muscle power to mental labour of skilled and machine work.

During the discussion advocating for strategic security through regional integration, the President emphasised the need for Africa to draw upon its historical resilience against the slave trade, colonialism, and neo-colonialism and secure itself from contemporary threats.

Reflecting on the failed attempts in 1963 to create an East African Federation, he noted that despite the hesitance of leaders like Apolo Milton Obote and Jomo Kenyatta, who were influenced by European powers, figures like Mwalimu Nyerere and Abeid Karume of Zanzibar successfully moved forward to establish Tanzania, which has succeeded for over 60 years.

President Museveni pointed out that had the federation been realised, many subsequent issues, such as the rise of Idi Amin, might have been avoided.

He stressed that the existence of national borders has created limitations on regional cooperation, often leaving neighbouring nations like South Sudan and Congo vulnerable to crises that require collective action.

“It is unfortunate that these leaders preferred to remain as big fish in a small pond."

“We are committed to engaging with our neighbours to ensure our strategic security and shared prosperity through political integration.”

Museveni further articulated that the impetus for regional integration stems from the innate brotherhood among East African communities, including the Bantu, Nilotics, and Nilo-hamites, who share cultural and historical similarities.

President Museveni (centre) in a group photo with army officers after the lecture at State House Entebbe. (PPU)

He advocated for the concept of "undugu", a Swahili term meaning brotherhood, suggesting that these commonalities could serve as a unifying force against sectarianism.

“Why not leverage these shared characteristics to unite our people?” he wondered, emphasising the potential for economic integration and political collaboration.

Museveni restated that such unity is essential not just for prosperity, but for the safety and security of the entire region, reinforcing the critical objectives he has detailed in his numerous writings over the years.

Brig. Gen. Peter Chandia, Commandant of the Armoured Warfare Training School, said the President's lecture enhanced their as being beneficial to everyone.

“This lesson today, sir, has brought out significant lessons important for our College Courses curriculum and will forever inspire us to continue to work harder to defend Uganda and Africa and to identify our linkages and similarities for achieving Political and Economic Federation, Prosperity and Social Economic Transformation.”

The institution is training specialised students in technical skills from the School of Combat Engineering Level III Intake 04/2024-2025 and tank crews from Tank Training School Intake 18/2024-2025, as well as Armour Platoon Commanders (APCC) from MOI Training School Intake 08/2024-2025.

Armoured Warfare Training School (AWTS) continues to develop human resource capabilities for Motorised Infantry and Armoured Brigade through numerous trainings that have resulted in excellent performance by the components in both local and foreign missions; focusing on operational-level training for mid-level officers and enhancing their analytical skills for modern military challenges.

The graduation for the current various cohorts is scheduled for July 2025.