Museveni urges Ugandan army officers to shun identity politics, champion prosperity and security

President Yoweri Museveni has called upon officers of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to reject the divisive influence of identity politics and instead focus on promoting national unity, socio-economic transformation, and strategic security for Uganda.

The call was made during a lecture delivered at State House Entebbe on Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, to UPDF officers and students undergoing training at the Armoured Warfare Training School in Karama, Mubende District.

Museveni, also the Commander In Chief of the UPDF, emphasized the destructive impact of identity politics, pointing to its historical role in undermining national cohesion and hindering progress in many African nations.

He argued that the prevalence of such divisive forces had contributed significantly to the continent’s vulnerability to colonialism and subsequent economic decline.

“In the last 500 years, Africa has been through so many problems, slave trade, colonialism, and neo-colonialism,” he stated. “All this was happening because the governance of Africa was weak and lagged, consequently allowing Europeans to take control.”

He expressed his satisfaction with the gathering, highlighting the importance of discussing the UPDF’s crucial role as an instrument of revolution in Uganda and across Africa. He stressed the need for the officers to fully understand and embrace this mission.

President Museveni then delved into the historical context of European colonization, highlighting its detrimental effects on African economic development, including Uganda. He urged the officers to prioritize national interests above all else.

Drawing on the lessons learned from the era of neo-colonialism and its resulting economic hardships, President Museveni emphasized the importance of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government’s introduction of three core missions: prosperity, strategic security, and brotherhood.

He further highlighted the four ideological principles: Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Socio-Economic Transformation, and Democracy, all of which he credited with contributing to the revival of the Ugandan economy.

Furthermore, President Museveni challenged the army officers to rethink the concept of prosperity, emphasizing the importance of self-sufficiency. He argued that genuine economic growth is not reliant on external aid, but rather on local production and entrepreneurship.

He introduced the concept of “ekibaro,” emphasizing the need to produce valuable goods and services for sale. He explained that through this process, communities can generate income, improve their living standards, and gain access to essential resources like housing, transportation, electricity, and clean water.

“You can’t get prosperous from aid,” Museveni asserted. “If we were to get prosperous, Africa would be rich, even other countries like Latin America have been getting aid but they are very poor. The only way you can get prosperous is to produce a good or a service and you sell it with ekibaro and this will help you to get good money to live a better life.”

In closing, President Museveni cautioned the officers against the dangers of tribalism and stressed the importance of expanding markets beyond Uganda’s borders to ensure sustained economic prosperity.

He advocated for a Pan-African and patriotic approach, urging the officers to embrace these principles as they serve their nation and continent. His message resonated deeply, reinforcing the UPDF’s role not only as a defense force but also as a crucial engine for national development and progress.