President Museveni's address to NRM MPs in full

Oct 18, 2011

The NRM’s vision is unique among the Parties and in the history of Uganda. It is based on four principles

 

The NRM’s Vision is unique among the Parties and in the history of Uganda.  It is based on four principles:

·       Nationalism (anti-sectarianism);

·       Pan-Africanism (integration of Africa);

·       Socio-economic transformation; and

·       Democracy.

Firstly, we reject sectarianism because it negates the interests of even the individuals, forget about groups.  In the booklet on Patriotic Clubs, I pointed out my own example.  Although I am a Munyankore, my interests of prosperity are most served by the Ugandans of Kampala and other East Africans who buy my milk.  Otherwise, I would be stuck with my milk and I would be poor in spite of owning land and cattle.  My Banyankore neighbours assist me in one aspect.  Since many of them also produce milk, we are able to generate large volumes, which makes it easy for marketing and processing.  A lot of milk is found in one area.  

You do not have to go to many areas to look for milk if you are a trader or a processor.  Otherwise, those Banyankore do not buy my milk because they also produce milk.  The complimentarity between my interests and other Ugandans on milk is replicated on many other items: a Muganda with a shop or a taxi in Kampala sells or provides service to all Ugandans that are interested in his services, a Langi who is producing sunflower provides us with vegetable oil while we provide him with a market, etc.  Therefore, those who preach sectarianism are not only wrong but they are also an obstacle to the interests of Ugandans as individuals.  Only parasites benefit from sectarianism and those also do so for a limited period.  In the end, they also lose.  

That is what happened to the immediate post independence political groups.  They lost badly and, unfortunately, they made all of us lose lives, wealth, opportunities and development time.  Therefore, the NRM’s medicine for this is anti-sectarianism, nationalism or patriotism whatever we prefer to call it.

Secondly, NRM believes that Uganda alone is not enough to cater for our economic interests or our strategic security.  We need East Africa, we need Africa for markets for our products.  We need East Africa for our strategic security.  We need the whole of Africa for an even bigger market.  We need East Africa and Africa to negotiate for bigger markets abroad.  Uganda alone does not have enough bargaining power to demand reciprocal market access from others e.g. EU, USA, Russia, China, India, Brazil, etc.

Thirdly, the NRM has always advocated for socio-economic transformation. Moving Uganda from under-development to modernity.  Turning Uganda into an industrial country.  Agriculture alone cannot give a good quality of life to our people.  It cannot also guarantee our future in terms of security and independence.  When Africa was colonized, we were an agricultural continent with some artisan skills (blacksmiths, carpenters, etc).  That level of development could not guarantee our security.

Fourthly, the NRM, right from 1965, has always worked for democracy for Uganda and even Africa where possible.  Democracy, free of misinformation and manipulation, is a good therapy for societies.  It provides avenues for rectification and renewal in the political leadership of the country.  It guarantees the sovereignty of the people over their affairs.

These four principles are the core principles of the NRM.  This retreat, however, is dedicated to principle number three – socio-economic transformation.  In the last 500 years, the European society has undergone socio-economic transformation.  By 1400, the European society was comprised of three classes: the aristocrats, the peasants and the artisans.  By the time of the French Revolution, one class, the artisans, had declined and two new classes had been born, namely the middle class (bourgeoisie) and the industrial working class (the proletariat).

Today, two classes have disappeared from the European society.  These are: the aristocrats and the peasants.  Even what people call aristocrats in Europe are, in effect, upper middle class because they no longer depend on e

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