Army warned against tribalism, sectarianism

Jun 19, 2013

The Ugandan army has been told to observe the NRM government’s four principles of patriotism, pan-Africanism, social economic transformation and infrastructure development.

The Ugandan army has been told to observe the NRM government’s four principles of patriotism, pan-Africanism, social economic transformation and infrastructure development.

President Yoweri Museveni said his government does not accept ideology based on tribalism, religious and gender chauvinism including sectarianism of tribe and religion.

"Those who talk about tribalism are talking about a fake ideology. They do not talk about the interest of the people and the tribes to which they belong," he said.

He cited an example of himself as a cattle-keeper and farmer, saying that most of his produce like milk, beef and bananas is bought by people in Kampala and beyond who are not his tribe mates. And his argument was that if he was sectarian, nobody would buy his products because his neighbours have the same products he has.

Museveni was on Tuesday addressing officers and men of the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) of ranks ranging from lieutenant to captain on the principles on which the NRM government is operating.

The army men have been attending a pre-senior command and staff course in political education and leadership development in preparation for a senior command course at the Senior Staff and Command College Kimaka in Jinja.

The director of the National Leadership Institute at Kyankwanzi Colonel David Kasura-Kyomukama said they have trained the officers for one-and-a-half months, preparing them to join a one-year Senior Command and staff course.

President Museveni placed emphasis on the need for Ugandans to be nationalistic and pan-Africanists in order to explore the greater economic opportunities in the big markets of East Africa.

According to him, economic opportunities make people move from one country to another, which confirms the talk that sectarianism has no truth, validity and is wrong.

The Ugandan leaders also tasked Ugandans to work towards a political federation of East Africa so as to get a bigger market for business and power.

His call comes on the back of efforts geared towards region integration, with east African leaders committed towards the union.

Museveni also noted that Uganda should become a two-class society of middle and working class like European nations, by phasing out peasants.

He listed free education programmes – UPE and USE – technical training, science education, infrastructure modernization and democracy as some of the stimuli for Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.

PPU

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