Munyonyo — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to focus on shared prosperity, industrial transformation, and mutual respect rather than ideological conflicts and global domination.
Speaking at the 19th Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of NAM at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala, President Museveni said Africa’s vast economic potential remains largely untapped due to historical exploitation and modern inequities in global trade and technology access.
“Africa’s GDP remains small compared to its population and potential,” President Museveni said. “If Africa’s per capita income rose to $20,000, our GDP would reach about $30 trillion. That would not only make Africa richer but would also benefit our trading partners who would find larger markets here.”
He stressed that global prosperity is impossible when large sections of humanity remain poor. Citing the economic rise of China and India as examples, he noted that progress in one region can stimulate demand and opportunity in others.
“When China’s demand for industrial goods grew, the prices of steel, copper, and other commodities rose — benefiting even countries like Uganda,” he observed. “We must, therefore, not be selfish with progress. Prosperity in one part of the world should help lift all.”
Mutual Interests Over Ideological Divides
President Museveni, who is also the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, hailed the foresight of NAM’s founding leaders, saying their decision to pursue neutrality during the Cold War established a vital principle for global peace and cooperation. He said those principles remain vital today as the world once again faces polarisation and ideological manipulation.
“Our elders were right when they said: ‘We want to judge issues on merit.’ That neutrality saved us then, and it is even more important now,” Museveni said.
He warned against new forms of hegemonism and attempts by powerful nations to impose political or economic systems on others.
He recalled that in Europe’s past, “the Pope once tried to control Europe and failed”. “Anybody who thinks they should control the world is wasting their time,” he said.
He urged NAM member states to focus instead on mutually beneficial cooperation—trade, investment, tourism—and to lead by good example rather than by force or ideological imposition.
“My advice is that we concentrate on minimum, mutually beneficial interests — trade, investment, tourism, and mutual support. Where we don’t agree, let us act by good example, not coercion.”
Rejecting Hegemonism and Coercion
Museveni used historical analogies to illustrate the futility of domination, referencing Europe’s religious wars and the collapse of empires that resisted social change.
“When capitalism emerged after the French Revolution, Metternich of Austria-Hungary tried to stop it — but failed. The Austro-Hungarian Empire disappeared because it resisted the evolution of history,” he said.
He added that nations must be free to choose their social and political systems. “If you believe your system is right, live it well — and others will learn by your example. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works,” he said, quoting scripture.
Unity, Cooperation and Hope for the Developing World
The President reaffirmed that the Non-Aligned Movement continues to serve as a “voice of reason and balance” for the Global South, offering a platform for dialogue, equity, and peace in a divided world.
“When I look around this hall, I see hope — hope that together, we can make this world more just, prosperous, and peaceful,” Museveni said.
He urged NAM countries to deepen cooperation in science, technology, and industrialisation as engines of shared affluence. “The world must understand that development is not a privilege — it is a right,” Museveni stated. “Through cooperation and innovation, we can transform our societies and create a fairer global order.”
The representative of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres congratulated Uganda for its successful stewardship of the movement. He praised NAM’s role in promoting dialogue, diplomacy, and South-South cooperation.
H.E. Ambassador Musa Mohamed Omar, representing H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, also lauded Uganda’s leadership and NAM’s enduring vision.
He noted that countries benefiting from the current world order were defending an unfair status quo and urged the Global South to stand united in reforming global governance.
“Those who benefit from the current world order are defending the status quo. But if we put our efforts in common and align our vision with other frameworks such as the G77 plus China, we will be able to influence the construction of a new, fairer world order,” Ambassador Omar said.
The January 2024 NAM Summit in Kampala, attended by over 120 member states and observers, was widely hailed as a diplomatic success that reaffirmed the movement’s role as a bridge between the Global North and South. This week’s Midterm Review Meeting is expected to build on those outcomes, with discussions centred on peacebuilding, technology transfer, trade facilitation, and climate resilience.
