Munyonyo — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called for a renewed focus on global economic balance, emphasising the need to align production with consumption to ensure sustainable growth.
He made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Meeting held at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Wednesday.
In his address, President Museveni stressed that the global economy cannot thrive if prosperity is concentrated in only a few regions, while vast populations remain impoverished.
“Understanding the balance between production and consumption is crucial for global economic stability,” President Museveni said. “Africa’s GDP remains small compared to its population and potential. I call for accelerated industrialisation and value addition.”
He urged NAM member states to prioritise trade, investment, tourism, and mutual support, while respecting each nation’s sovereignty and right to determine its own social and political systems.
“Let us focus on the minimum mutually beneficial interests — trade, investment, tourism, and cooperation — but respect each country’s right to choose its own social system,” he stated.
The President noted that despite having a population of 1.5 billion people, Africa’s GDP stands at about US$4 trillion, far below its potential.
“If Africa’s per capita income rose to US$20,000, our GDP would reach about US$30 trillion. That would benefit not only Africa but also our global trading partners, who would find larger markets here,” Museveni observed.
Turning to international peace and security, President Museveni reaffirmed NAM’s consistent support for the Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“During Uganda’s tenure, NAM has consistently called on the international community to recognise Palestine and support its admission to the United Nations,” he said. “The Two-State Solution remains the only legitimate path to ending this long-protracted conflict.”
He warned against the resurgence of hegemonic ambitions in global politics, describing such efforts as “historically futile.”
“The ambitions of hegemonism will not work. Anyone who thinks they can control the world is wasting their time,” he said, referencing historical lessons from Europe’s religious and political conflicts.
Museveni also paid tribute to the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement — including Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Sukarno of Indonesia, Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana — for their vision and commitment to global equity and independence of thought.
“I salute the Bandung founders for laying the NAM foundation and express optimism about the role of the developing world in shaping the future,” he said.
The President underscored that the Non-Aligned Movement remains a vital platform for the Global South to advance shared interests in peace, sustainable development, and multilateral cooperation.
“As I look around this hall today, I see hope — hope that together, we can make this world more just, prosperous, and peaceful,” Museveni concluded.
The NAM Ministerial Meeting 2025 follows up on last year’s summit commitments, focusing on transforming shared principles into tangible progress through discussions on sustainable development, digital transformation, and equitable multilateralism.
The Non-Aligned Movement, founded in 1961, is the world’s second-largest grouping of states after the United Nations, comprising 121 member countries representing more than half of the global population.
