President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has revealed that European powers are instigating violent unrest in neighbouring Tanzania, saying the riots are part of a wider plot to derail Uganda’s progress in the oil and industrial sectors.
Speaking from Mbale State Lodge during a radio address on Friday, Museveni said that foreign actors were “misleading Tanzanian youth” to stage riots intended to destabilise the region and frustrate Africa’s push toward self-reliance.
“These Europeans are behind those riots in Tanzania. They fear our development — our industries are growing, our oil is coming — and they want to control Africa’s resources,” the President said.
Museveni linked the recent riots in Tanzania to what he described as a broader strategy of Western interference. Security forces in Tanzania have since been deployed in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Mwanza to quell the riots.
“They cannot accept a strong and self-reliant Africa,” Museveni added. “They want us to remain dependent so they can dictate to us.”
The President reiterated that Uganda would not tolerate any attempts to destabilise the country or derail its development agenda. “Nobody can disturb our peace. Anybody who tries will be dealt with,” he warned.
Museveni also used the address to highlight progress on Uganda’s oil projects, including the Tilenga and Kingfisher developments and the planned Hoima refinery, which he said would usher in a new phase of industrial growth.
“This oil will support value addition, create jobs, build industries, and give us energy independence,” he stated.
Encouraging Ugandan youth to focus on productivity and innovation, the President urged them to take advantage of new government programs, industrial parks, and start-up funding in sectors such as ICT and commercial agriculture.
“Stop wasting time on tribalism and politics of division,” he advised. “Use your energy for production.”
Museveni concluded his speech by reaffirming Uganda’s commitment to regional stability and industrial transformation, emphasising that “no amount of foreign manipulation will stop Africa’s progress.”