End of Year Address: No Terrorist or Criminal Group Can Defy Combined Strength of Uganda's Security Agencies - Museveni

During his End of Year address, President Yoweri Museveni spoke about wide-ranging issues, including security, economy and geopolitical affairs.

Below is the full speech.

Countrymen and Countrywomen, greetings from the Government and the NRM Party.

Congratulations on completing 2022 and we wish you a prosperous 2023.

Tonight, I will speak about three issues: the high commodity prices and possible shortages (ebura) of those commodities; crime; and okukongora (idling around while others are working).

It is clear that the main driver of high commodity prices and shortages of some commodities is the war in Ukraine and the sanctions that were put on Russian oil and other products by western countries.

We have avoided taking sides in that conflict because we think that it could have been avoided and we have told those involved our views in private. Consequently, we have avoided negotiating with friendly Russia for cheaper oil like India has done because we are also friends with the USA and all the Western Countries.

Instead, we are intensifying diplomatic contacts (quietly), to resolve the whole issue. In the meantime, we are handling the part of the problem that is easy for us to handle the shortages.

The shortages were partly due to the poor rains of the past seasons (eshumi). That is why we resolved to intensify the use of irrigation so as to immunize our agriculture against the erraticness of the weather. We are also intensifying efforts to produce products like palm oil that is used in the manufacture of soap instead of importing it from Indonesia and Malaysia.

Therefore,  while imported items may be scarce our own locally-produced items will be plenty.  These are bananas,  cassava,  millet,  beans,  maize,  beef,  milk, fish,  eggs,  chicken,  etc.   They may be expensive because of the petrol that is used to transport them, but they will be available.

Even the prices of some of them remained stable during  Christmas,  take beef, for instance.  The price remained stable.  This could be because of some element of speculation by some goods and service providers; they unnecessarily raise prices. When the consumers stay away on account of the high prices,  they are,  then,  forced to lower the prices and still make a profit.

What does that mean?  It means, they were just too greedy for super-profits and were taking advantage of the situation. They were profiteering.    

That greed also distorts the picture of the struggle for lowering the costs of business and the cost of living.The Ugandans should remember that the problem is not only high commodity prices (obuseere) but possible shortages (ebura).  Ebura will be defeated first. Nevertheless, we are not just sitting and waiting for global conflicts to calm down and bring down the price of fuel.  

We  are working on plans to shift to electric buses, electric cars and electric piki pikis.  The quickest move may be on Piki pikis.  We have agreed with some investors,  to take away the petrol/diesel ones and give the owners the electric ones.  

How will the investors recover their money?  By the Government licensing them to operate charging stations where the electric batteries are recharged.  This swap (okuhanisa), will save the piki piki operator 50%  of the cost.    As pointed out above,  the shift in transport vehicles is not only in respect of piki pikis.

It also involves the buses, cars, mini-buses, pick-ups, etc., manufactured by   Kiira   Motors and   METU Katabaazi, and others.  In the meantime, without yet  6talking to our Russian friends, we are talking to other petrol refiners to sell us cheaper fuel eliminating middlemen who add as much as $50 per tonne on the cost of fuel.  

Our own petroleum will start flowing in 2025.  There is a  story of the akahaanda  akafunzire (the narrow path) in the  Bible that leads to heaven as opposed to ekihaanda rugyeendwa (the wide popular path) that leads to Gehena (hell).

The NRM always, in difficult times,  follows the narrow path that always leads to salvation.  

The exact portion in the Bible, in the Book of Matthew, Chapter 7, verses 13-14 goes as follows: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. On the issue of crime, I want to assure Ugandans that there is no terrorist group or criminal group that can defy the combined strength of the UPDF, the Uganda Police, the intelligence services,  the  Ugandan  Prison Services,  the  Ugandan  Wildlife Authority and the popular vigilance of the people.

In this year ending, you have heard what happened to the following groups of terrorists and criminals:

The  Ndugwa-Ssemakula groups that attacked Police Posts in the Mityana-Kiboga, 23 of them are now in prison  including their leader Ssemakula Ndugwa;

The ADF cell attacked General Katumba when they killed his daughter and one other person; three of  them  were killed  and nine are in prison;

Bijambiya attackers who killed 28 people in the Masaka area, 23 of them have all been arrested

The group that entered Uganda, in the Ntoroko area from Congo and killed one bicyclist they met on the 11th of December 2022, 26 have been killed, 15 have been arrested and 22 weapons (SMGs and 2 light machine guns) have been captured; etc., etc.

I do not have time to give details of the operations that destroyed these groups. However,  I  will only briefly describe the group of   Mao (real name Katende Moses), that attacked Busiika Police Post, killed two  Police personnel, and stole  2  guns.

On the 9th of July, the CAO of Bukwo, Ogwang Charles, was ambushed and killed in the  Matugga area of this group.  On  the  25thof  July,  panga  wielding criminals,attacked  a  Police  Check  Point,  where Policemen were obviously relaxed,  near  Kasana Luwero, killed 2 Policemen, and took their guns.

On the 31st of  October,   2022, and on the 9th of December,  criminals attacked  Busiika  Police  Post and Kyabadaaza  Police  Station. In those attacks, two Police personnel and 2 civilians, were killed and some guns were taken. These criminals thought they were smart and unreachable. This is how they deceive themselves.    However,  as  I  told you in a recent television address,  in a  reasonably well-organized system like Uganda, there is no way you can commit such crimes and you cannot leave clues.

Using the inevitable clues they left behind, the police arrested some people, which enabled the Police to arrest another  50  associates of those criminals.  Eventually, some more criminals were arrested and the evidence on them proved that the group that had been killing these  People, was a group of seven  ADF  members,led by  Mao whose real name is Katende Moses.  

This group had even brought in a  light machine gun  (LMG-PK)  from  10Congo,    which they used in Kyabadaaza. Consequently,  on the 18th of December, the police attacked a hideout in Kito-Matugga where Muwanguzi Abdul Shakur and Hajuuli Akimu were killed and  2  SMGs were recovered, including the one they robbed from Busiika Police Post.

The Police also found IEDs that they were planning to use against targets they would choose. The remnants of the group fled to Nyendo, in Kyalugo –Bugambira. On the 24th of December,  2022, Katende Moses, the group leader, was arrested and was found with one  LMG(PK),  7  SMGs,  1  pistol, 2IEDs, etc., etc.  

An iPad was also got from a lodge in Bwala.  Mao gets orders from Suleiman, who gets orders from  Amigo in Congo. Apparently,  the pressure on ADF in Congo is too much for them and these attacks in Uganda are to raise money for ADF in  Congo and also, they childishly imagine that these attacks will force us to withdraw from Congo. 11Therefore, our strategy of destroying ADF in Congo and neutralizing these scattered elements within Uganda is correct.  Recently, we have seen another childish form of action by the anti-NRM elements, which also shows their desperation.  

This is the cutting of the electricity pylons. The targeting of these pylons is actually a compliment to the NRM.  The parasites who fear  Africa’s strength cannot stand a  successful  African economy like  Uganda. Hence, attack the base of that success, which includes the massive electrification program.  Of course, this, again, shows the bankruptcy of these groups.  How can anybody cut electricity pylons in Uganda and we fail to locate him or her?Stay tuned, you will soon hear interesting news on this.This  now  brings  me  to  my  real  topic  of  today: “okukongora”,  known  as luwac  kom(onang-nang nango  labedo), in  Luo, ekalany(female),  okalany (male)in Ateso and ovuu in Lugbara.

It is imagery from our rural setting and,  also,  in our rural Primary  Schools, where we would do work in the compound or in the School Garden.  Everybody is supposed to put in equal effort in the work at hand –cutting  the grass in the compound  (okutema akajiijja),   removing the litter from the school compound  (kuzambuura), digging in the school garden, or digging in the home garden  (kuhiinga). There were People who would not do their share of the work but expect an equal reward (e.g. food after work at home).  

This conduct is very much frowned upon and despised in the villages.  This is exactly what is happening in the wider economy. However,  before  I  come to the economy today,  let me first go back to our African dialects, which are very clear in describing the actions of People and other phenomena.  

The following are crucial words: (1)Okukora-to do work; (2)Emirimo-work; (3)Emizaano-sports, games; (4)Embaga-feasting; (5)Kweshongora-singing, music; (6)Kuhiiga-hunting; (7)Kuhuumba-gathering wild fruits; (8)Kuterekyerera-appeal to the super-natural forces through traditional prayers (kusiga); (9)Kushaba-prayers(modern way);(10)Obwomeezi-ability to live; (11)Entunguuka-development; (12)Obugaiga-wealth; (13)Okugwagye-prosperity.

These words remind us that what is most basic in all these are obwomeezi (amagara, obulamu)and okugwagye (living and prosperity).  In order to achieve these, you must kukora or somebody must kukora for you  (work).      In our traditions,  work was in 4 categories as follows: (1)Kuhiinga -cultivation; (2)Kuriisa-livestock herding (cattle, goats, sheep); (3)Skills of the hand(Emyooga) –kuheesha (blacksmith), kubeija (carpentry, woodwork), kukomaga  (making bark cloth), kutananga –making arrows and bows, kunogoora –making clay pots,  abariimbi – transporters on  water, abagyeengyi – surgeons, abafumu –herbalists; etc., Abajubi -fishermen.

This pre-capitalist system is metamorphosing into new sectors of the economy.  The NRM has repeatedly told you of the four sectors: (i)Commercial agriculture (crops, livestock, fisheries); (ii)Industry (manufacturing and mining);(iii)Services; (iv)ICT.

We have repeatedly told you that if you want livelihood and prosperity you must strive and find space in one of  the four. Of course,  there is a  fifth sector,   the   Public   Service that accommodates 480,000  persons from a population of  43  million People.  It is not correct for many people to have hope in finding livelihood and prosperity in Public Service.    

It is wrong and dangerous. It is wrong because those jobs are not enough.  It is dangerous because most of the Public  Service jobs do not directly add to the wealth of the Country and yet they take money (salaries).  Some Public Service jobs, yes, contribute to wealth creation. Take the  Security providers (e.g.   Army,   Police,   etc.),   for instance.  Without them, wealth creation is impossible.  

Some of the scientific cadres  (doctors,  engineers,  vets,  etc.), 16add to wealth creating by supporting our health and giving scientific support to the efforts of the  Wealth creators.    Some of social scientists,  if they have the right orientation, also contribute to wealth creation.  This category includes economists, a minimum of administrators,   etc.    

However, the pressure to create too many administrative units e.g. municipalities, the endless list of new districts, sub-counties, etc., is wrong once you have addressed the problem of sub-colonialism that we inherited from the imperialist  (some groups using  Local  Government Units to oppress. People like the  Baruuri,  Banyala, Banyaruguru, etc.).Therefore, not to lose this historical moment, we must emphasize the four sectors of Wealth creation:  commercial agriculture;  Industry  (manufacturing); Services; and ICT.

Within the four sectors, we should clearly distinguish the differences between emirimo (work) and emizaano (sports,   playing),   between okukora (work)   and okutarama (trans-night) or ebinyumo (merry-making).  With the growth of modern economies, activities like music  (okweshongora) and  sports  (emizaano), have shifted from just being amusements (kushemeza) and hobbies to emirimo (work) for the actors (some of the musicians and some of the sportsmen).

These earn from those jobs. How about the fans?  How much of their time do they spend watching these actors? When do they have time to spend in their gardens, factories,  clinics,  etc?  Is gambling  (zaara) a  job?When we were young, we used to do the game of zaara with split beans –four of them.  If they all faced down, that was 10 heifers (enyana) for you; if they all faced up, that was 8 heifers (enyana for you), if two faced up and two down, you had two enyana; outside those 3, if I remember correctly, you lose.

This was a game (omuzaano) is not a job (omurimo). Even in Ludo, in Mbarara High School, we would play that game. Can you make that game and other forms of gambling, jobs? Moreover, if the musicians and sportsmen and churchmen are making a living through those services, how about the fans and the followers?

Should they forget their own mirimo (crops, livestock, factory work, clinics, etc.) and spend all their time in concerts, churches, etc.? The only time, I have entered a Court of Law, was in 1956, when, being attracted by a game of football, I joined the other boys (near Kame’s Kraal) for a moment of enjoying the sport as a player (because I was a good footballer), only to discover that the cattle I was herding had descended on a Mwanainchisluscious millet garden. Running at full speed, I tried to save whatever was remaining of the millet.

It was, however, too late. I had committed the offence of okwonesa. Lawyers, please, translate that for me in English and legal 19jargon. For lay understanding, it means one’s livestock eating the crop of another citizen.

This temporary attraction to village football, qualified me to appear before the Parish Court at Kikoni, under a mutooma tree – omutuba – ficus nantelensis – in Mzee Katojo’s rutookye (banana plantation).

I was, then, coached, I do not remember by who, to say: “omushaango ningwikyiriiza” –I plead guilty to the charge –and that by so doing, it will be better for everybody. I think Mzee Kaguta had to pay the millet owner some enkaitsi (compensation).

Or was he forgiven in the interests of village solidarity? Hence, Bazukulu: there is time for everything”. It goes,in the Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter3 Verses 1-8, as follows:

Time for Everything

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend,a time to be silent and a time to speak,8a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

In Katakwi yesterday, I told all present and not present, about the repeated position of the NRM regarding Development and Wealth – Entunguuka and obugaiga.

Entunguuka (Schools, health centres, roads, etc.), belong to all of us –wealth creators and parasites. Wealth, however, belongs to the individual proprietor and respective households.

It is your wealth that will help you solve your personal needs of food, shelter, clothing, mode of transport, etc. Even if the Government builds a good tarmac road near your house, we cannot also feed you and your family, we cannot clothe you, etc.

Even for the development to be sustained, the wealth of the homes and individuals must grow. Why? When I have wealth in my home, e.g. milk, bananas, etc., I, first of all, supply those items to Ugandans for their use and some are exported.

Additionally, the family gets income and they buy consumer items: sugar, clothing, petrol for Piki piki, etc. Each of those items has got a tax on them. Therefore, my household contributes to the budget of the country that supports development of the Country (roads, schools, etc.), and also my family's pocket supports the factories producing sugar, textiles, etc. Indirectly, I, therefore, help some Ugandans to get jobs in those factories. Therefore, let us be clear. No kukongora.

The sectors are four: commercial agriculture; industry; services; and ICT. Within those sectors, we must distinguish between: okukora and okuzaana (work and play) and know that everything has got its time.

When you do not work when you are supposed to, you are a mukongozi (a malingerer) –a cheater. In order to ensure that everybody can participate, we have put Ushs100 million per parish for helping families to engage in small-scale high-value agriculture activities: coffee, fruits, zero-grazing cattle, food crops, poultry for eggs, piggery and fish farming.

We have put UGX1.2 trillion in UDB to lend, at low-interest rates, for manufacturing and large-scale commercial agriculture, including the extensive agriculture that will, in addition to the 7 activities of the small-scale intensive agriculture mentioned above, support the activities that only make profit when they are done on a large-scale. These include cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, tea, ranching, etc.

UDC has been given Ugx424 billion to co-invest in manufacturing with the private sector or invest on its own in identified profitable areas.

•Sugar Processing (Atiak) - Ugx 274bn;

•Road construction - Ugx.26bn

•Munyonyo Convention Centre - Ugx86bn

•Zombo Tea – Ugx10bn

•Luwero Fruit – Ugx6bn

•Soroti Fruit –Ugx1bn

•Busoga Sugar – Ugx6bn

•Glove Manufacturing – Ugx15bn

Finally, there is the Emyooga fund at the constituency for the skills that are not covered under PDM.

These emyooga are: Boda Boda Riders, Women Entrepreneurs, Carpenters, Salon Operator, Taxi Operators, Restaurant Owners, Welders, Market Vendors, Youth Leaders, Persons With Disabilities, Produce Dealers, Mechanics, Tailors, Journalists, Performing Artists, Veterans, Fishermen and, Elected Leaders

These have been given Ugx258.24 billion to benefit 6,714 Emyooga SACCOs with a membership of 1.9 million individuals.

Below are the successful beneficiaries that borrowed from UDB for commercial agriculture and industry.

•Inspire Africa Coffee Limited

•Kyankwanzi Premier Ranchers Limited

•Agroways Limited•Biyinzika Enterprises Limited

•Creekside Farms Limited

•Akuku Farm Seeds Limited

•Kampala Domestic Stores Limited.

•Abasajja Kweyamba Irrigation Scheme

•Yahe International Limited•Kamuli Sugar

•Uganda Farmers Crop Industries Limited/ Sezibwa

•Lota agro processors Limited•Manyakabi Area Cooperative Enterprises Limited

•Rubanga Cooperative Society Limited

•Muhangi Dairy Farm Ltd

•Aralla Farm Limited

•Cumiika Farms Limited

•Central Grazing Company Limited

•Kabeihura Farmers Limited

•Rwambaga Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society Limited

•Nice House of Plastics Ltd

•Steel & Tube Industries Ltd

•Movit Products Ltd

•Jesa Farm Diary Ltd

•Kakira Sugar

•Luuka Plastics Ltd

•Kamuli Sugar

•Royikems industries Ltd

•Quality Plastics Ltd

•Afroplast Enterprises Ltd

•Kampala Domestic Stores

•Globo Chemicals U Ltd

•Felm U Ltd•Kabaco U Ltd

•Medipharm•Musabody Machinery U Ltd

•Kazire health products Ltd -herbal medicines

•Mish farm Ltd -Beef farm

•Heritage Ranch Ltd (Beef farm)

•Ask International-Fish processing

•Farm holdings Ltd (Beef processing)

Down with the okukongora. Long live the Prosperity for all of us. The talk that the money is at the Parish or constituency, but is not accessible, is not acceptable.

You, the Bazukulu, take interest in the money. Demand from the Muruka Chief for the PDM and from the CAO for the Emyooga, the details about the money.

Do not say that your Jajja, Uganda, akulamidde (akuragyire has bequeathed you) your share, but you do not bother to trace where it is and access it.

The Government will act from this side. You should also act from that side. Mulondole essente ezo (trace that money).