Only political, economic integration will drive Africa's sustainable prosperity — Museveni

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President Yoweri Museveni has reiterated his call for political and economic integration if the people of Africa are to achieve sustainable prosperity.

According to the President, the US is prosperous because of political and economic integration as compared to Latin America which is limping economically with its abundant resources due to fragmentation.

“What caused the difference between the US and Latin America? In my view, the answer is political and economic integration vs fragmentation. If you fragment the market, you have this small market of Uganda, Kenya, that is where the problem is,” he said.

Topeka Stacie Madiba, the former First Lady of South Africa (in white dress) was among the guests attending the celebrations. (PPU)

The President who was in the company of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, made the remarks on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, during the Ateker Cultural Festival celebrations at Soroti City Sports Grounds.

The three-day event (November 27-29, 2024) is running under the theme: Celebrating Shared Heritage, Forging a Path Towards Peace, Prosperity and Cultural Renaissance. This year's festival is intended to consolidate peace, team building and celebration of unity as well explore the economic opportunities among the Ateker community.

The annual festival brings together the Ateker Communities of Nyangatom of Ethiopia, Topotha, Bari and Torit of South Sudan, the Iteso, Karamojong, Jie, Dodoth, Kumam, Langi and Kakwa of Uganda, the Masai of Tanzania and the Turkana and Masai of Kenya.

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You are an enemy of your tribe

President Museveni explained that political and economic integration among similar and linked people done appropriately, means strength and prosperity while political and market fragmentation means weakness and misery on account of poverty and insecurity.

Guest at the Ateker Cultural Festival celebrations. (PPU)

“That is why our National Resistance Movement, which started as a student movement in the 1960s, distilled the four ideological principles which are patriotism, pan-africanism, socio-economic transformation and democracy,” he said.

“For Patriotism, you should love Uganda, love Kenya for your prosperity. If you think your tribe is more important than Ethiopia, you are an enemy of your tribe because you are endangering the interests of your tribe. Your tribe needs Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan if it is to be prosperous. You should love Africa because the internal market of your country is not enough so you need the market of Africa. That is why from the very beginning the second principle of the NRM was Pan-Africanism,” he added.

The community needs to evlove

On the other hand, President Museveni underscored the importance of Socio-economic transformation in societies.

“The community needs to undergo metamorphosis from a non-money traditional way of life to a money economy and democracy to ensure that people hold leaders accountable, and they are elected by them.”

Furthermore, the President reminded the Ateker people of the three historical missions that were put in place by Pan-Africanists to protect the interests of the African people.

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He listed the three historical means as creating prosperity, promoting strategic security and brotherhood “undugu”.

He said with prosperity, adult people should get involved in producing a good or a service and sell it sustainably.

“The second historical mission that we identified was strategic security whereby Africans have the ability to defend themselves against any threat from wherever. I'm glad that we revived the East African Treaty and it provides for the creation of the Common Market, the Customary union, the monetary union and eventually the political Federation,” he pointed out.

“I'm also glad that the African leaders finally agreed on the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA). Push for the consolidation of that effort because it addresses the aspect of the African people's prosperity through market integration.”

Centre of gravity is needed

Additionally, President Museveni encouraged the present generation to push for this insurance for the survival of the black race. He said in order for the black race to survive and thrive, it needs a centre of gravity.

President Museveni (right) with Emolot (left) during the Ateker Cultural Festival celebrations. (PPU)

He also commended the Ateker people for taking a step in the right direction of coming together as a similar group in the form of brotherhood to promote the interests of Africans.

“You are reminding yourselves that you are similar people, the colonial borders notwithstanding,” he noted.

“You the Ateker people are addressing the third historical mission of undugu here in Soroti. I encourage you to continue. The similarities and linkages among the African people make it easy for Africa to integrate inorder to achieve the first two historical missions,” he noted.

“Apart from the linkages and the similarities among the 1.5 billion Africans, we in East Africa and the Great Lakes have the additional advantage of Swahili, a non-tribal Bantu dialect that can be used to unite all this area.”

President Museveni also urged the Ateker people like the Karamojong to work with their respective governments to create peace.

“Remove the guns and work for peace. Then deal with the challenge of water. Once we have peace and water, it will be easier for you to abandon nomadism.”

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Vice-President, Jessica Alupo, informed the President that the festival is a celebration of unity, cultural heritage and shared dreams.

“I'm humbled by the spirit of togetherness demonstrated by your physical presence here today,” she said.

Alupo also noted that the Ateker reunion festival is an annual event that brings together Ateker language speaking communities spanning across diverse ethnic groups from Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

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