President Museveni Tips Zimbabwean Soldiers on Prosperity

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda Defense Forces, delivered a lecture to thirty-two Zimbabwean soldiers at State House Entebbe, focusing on the four foundational principles of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) aimed at fostering prosperity across Africa.

During the lecture, President Museveni underscored the importance of these principles—Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Socio-economic Transformation, and Democracy—highlighting their role in driving Africa’s development without dependence on external aid.

“These principles are what Africa needs to achieve prosperity,” he emphasized, explaining that African leaders, post-independence, including Robert Mugabe, Samora Machel, and Julius Nyerere, had recognized these pillars as essential for the continent’s progress.

Museveni began by discussing Patriotism, stressing the need for African citizens to prioritize national interests over identity-based politics. “Love Uganda because it is essential for your own prosperity,” he said, urging a shift from tribal and religious affiliations to a broader national outlook.

Moving on to Pan-Africanism, the President highlighted the importance of expanding markets beyond national borders to sustain economic growth. He cited Uganda’s growth in milk and sugarcane production as examples where internal markets proved insufficient, necessitating access to larger African markets. “Pan-Africanism is crucial for African countries to achieve prosperity,” he added, encouraging a continent-wide economic approach.

The third principle, Socio-economic Transformation, was presented as a deliberate process of educating society and engaging in profitable sectors, particularly commercial agriculture. Museveni pointed out that strategic security is integral to this transformation, as a stable nation can achieve faster economic growth without disruptions.

The President also cautioned against the pitfalls of over-reliance on foreign aid, stating that it often leads to external interference in domestic affairs. Additionally, he addressed the issue of corruption, which he identified as a major obstacle in Uganda. “The major problem we have in Uganda now is corruption among our cadres,” Museveni lamented.

In his concluding remarks, Captain Morris Mwijuka, the head of the Zimbabwean delegation, expressed gratitude to President Museveni for the insightful lecture and the warm hospitality they received during their visit to Uganda.