President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni delivered a lecture on economic and strategic transformation to a delegation from Zimbabwe’s National Defence University, calling for greater African unity, industrialisation, and self-sufficiency as pillars of the continent’s long-term prosperity and security.
Addressing 22 officers from Zimbabwe at State Lodge Nakasero, President Museveni reflected on the deep historical ties between Uganda and Zimbabwe, rooted in the liberation struggles of the 1980s. “The relationship between Uganda and Zimbabwe is fraternal. Even when we were fighting here, Robert Mugabe was with us,” he said.
The President traced Uganda’s ideological shift to the 1960s, when political movements were often fragmented along religious, tribal, and sectarian lines. He said the National Resistance Movement (NRM) posed critical questions: Do Africans deserve prosperity? If so, how is it achieved?
“Prosperity doesn’t come from begging or aid. It comes from producing goods and services and selling them,” he stated, emphasizing that tribalism cannot deliver sustainable prosperity due to limited internal markets.
This led to the NRM’s foundational principle of Patriotism—the idea that loving Uganda is essential for personal and national prosperity. He noted that a sectarian army cannot deliver effective national security.
Recognising the limitations of Uganda’s internal market, the President explained that regional integration was necessary for economic expansion, giving rise to the second NRM principle: Pan-Africanism. “Love Africa because you need it for your prosperity,” he added.
The third principle, Socio-Economic Transformation, emphasises the need for Africa to shift from manual labour to mechanised production and modern technology to uplift living standards.
President Museveni reiterated that Uganda’s mission is to integrate economically with the rest of Africa, ensuring shared prosperity and strategic security. He stressed that regional political federations would further strengthen the continent’s capacity to resist external threats and foster stability.
“Development alone is not enough. Even developed nations were attacked in World War II. That’s why Africa must embrace both economic integration and political federation,” he cautioned.
He also criticised post-independence African leadership for abandoning these foundational objectives, urging today’s leaders to revisit them with renewed commitment.
The Zimbabwean delegation was led by Brig Gen Francis Chakauya, who lauded President Museveni for his visionary leadership and the wealth of knowledge shared during the session. Uganda was represented by Brig Gen Wycliffe Keita, Head of Joint Staff – Training and Doctrine Command at the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
The engagement reaffirmed Uganda’s dedication to pan-African solidarity and knowledge exchange in pursuit of a more prosperous and secure continent.
