- President Museveni-all the zones, tribes, religions or the gendergroups of Uganda, need Uganda for their prosperity and affluence.
Image: PPU
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has underscored the crucial role of the four core principles of the National Resistance Movement (NRM)government in the creation of wealth and development.
“With the four ideological principles, and the three historical missions, we have been able to achieve progress in five phases; the minimum recovery of the enclave economy, expanding the small island of the money economy, diversifying the economy, adding value to the raw materials and promoting industrialization and entering the knowledge economy,” he said.
President Museveni who was in company of his counterpart , His Excellency Faustin Archange Touadéra , the President of the Central African Republic made his remarks on 9th October while officiating the 62nd Independence Day Anniversary celebrations.H.E Touadéra was invited to Uganda for a three-day official state visit to Uganda.
The colorful event was held at Busikho Teachers Demonstration Primary School grounds in Busia District.The celebrations ran under the theme: “Independence Day: A Recommitment to Secure and Fortify Our Destiny”.
According to the President, all the zones, tribes, religions or the gender groups of Uganda, need Uganda for their prosperity and affluence.“Once a zone produces goods or services, the next assistance to the effort of wealth and affluence creation would come from other zones of Uganda, that is why Uganda became very crucial for the wealth creation of the different zones.
That is how we came up with the first principle of the NRM- patriotism. Love Uganda, why? It is because you need it for your prosperity,” he said.“However, soon we discovered that even Uganda was not enough, we needed East Africa and Africa for a bigger market. Hence our second principle of Pan-Africanism. Love Africa, why? It is because you need it for your prosperity.”President Museveni also noted that the country cannot produce modern goods and services unless it promotes socio-economic transformation from the capitalist modes of social organisations.“Hence our third ideological principle of socio-economic transformation.
Our fourth ideological principle is democracy so that people are able to hold their leaders accountable for their actions or inactions.”The President also revealed that the historical missions of the NRM which include prosperity, strategic security and using the brotherhood of the African people to achieve the two, have been key in keeping the government focused as far as the journey of transforming Uganda is concerned.
Image: PPU
He also implored the citizens to add value to Uganda's raw materials if the country is to achieve the desired socio-economic transformation.
“We realised the big problem of Africa and other colonies has been the issue of producing only raw materials. This has been a disaster for Africa. Uganda may get USD 2.5 per kg of bean coffee, the same kilogram roasted and turned into coffee powder and packed outside may fetch USD 40. As a consequence of this, from a global value of coffee o fUSD 460 billion, the coffee growing countries in the world get only USD25 billion and Africa gets only USD2.5 billion,” he said.“Germany, a non-coffee growing country, earns USD 65 billion more than all the coffee growing countries in the world.
This is how the colonies and neo-colonies have been donating money, jobs and development Energies to Europe and North America. Therefore, we have been deliberately taking steps to end this betrayal by African leaders. In spite of the opposition, we have succeeded in some items like milk, textile, tin,cement, gold, cassava etc.”On the other hand, the President assured Ugandans that the country has already successfully entered the knowledge economy of automobiles, vaccines, pharmaceuticals, computer assembling, among other products.He further stated that for an immediate plan of boosting the economy,the government is working on the railways and other vital infrastructure.“With our oil resources, we are going to fund this.
The importance of the railway is to lower transport costs thus making it easier for businesses to make profits. We are already handling electricity. With low costs of doing business, Uganda becomes more attractive to business operators,” he said.“It is estimated that by the end of June 2025, the economy of Uganda will be $57.5 billion by the exchange rate method and $163 billion by the Public Private Partnership method.
At the event, 40 distinguished Ugandans were awarded with medals for their exceptional contribution towards the development of Uganda.
The event was also attended by the Vice President, H.E Jessica Alupo,Chief Justice, His Lordship Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, the Deputy Speaker,Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, First National Vice Chairman of NRM, Alhaji Moses Kigongo, the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, the First Deputy Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, 3rd Deputy Prime Minister, Rt. Hon Rukia Nakadama, NRM Secretary General, Rt.Hon. Richard Todwong, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Security Officers, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, cultural and religious leaders, among others.