President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Ateker communities in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa regions to embrace unity, economic transformation, and strategic security to achieve prosperity. He delivered the message during the Ateker Convention held in Soroti on November 27, 2024, emphasizing the importance of integration among African nations for sustainable development.
Museveni highlighted that prosperity can only be achieved through productive economic activities, sustainable practices, and access to larger markets. “Prosperity comes from producing goods or services sustainably and selling them. The tribal or national market alone is not enough to sustain this,” Museveni said, urging communities to think beyond colonial borders.
Drawing lessons from global examples, the president stressed that integration strengthens nations while fragmentation leads to poverty and insecurity. He praised the revival of the East African Community (EAC) treaty and the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) as key steps toward addressing Africa’s challenges.
“The EAC and CFTA provide platforms for market integration and political stability, ensuring the prosperity and survival of the African people,” Museveni noted. He also called for the Ateker communities to prioritize peace, education, healthcare, and commercial agriculture to align with broader regional development goals.
Museveni celebrated the Ateker Convention as a step toward fostering fraternity among African people. He encouraged cultural and linguistic unity, citing Kiswahili as a vital tool for bridging differences and promoting regional cohesion.
“The similarities and linkages among African peoples make integration achievable,” Museveni said, emphasizing the Ateker communities’ role in advancing unity and strategic security for Africa’s future.
The president concluded by urging the Ateker communities to collaborate with governments in addressing local challenges, such as water scarcity and nomadism, to build sustainable livelihoods.
