President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reaffirmed his firm stance on the urgent need to fast-track the East African Regional Federation, describing it as a strategic necessity for security, economic integration, and market expansion.
Speaking during a media interaction with journalists from the Bunyoro Sub-region at Nakasero State Lodge, President Museveni warned that Africa currently occupies a vulnerable position globally due to technological lag. He noted that other continents have achieved dominance across the four critical security dimensions—air, space, sea, and land—while Africa remains fragmented and exposed.
The President explained that the revival of the East African Community by himself and other past regional leaders was intended to create a “centre of gravity” for regional security and economic strength, laying a foundation for broader African unity and liberation. He challenged the Gen Z generation to align themselves with this historic mission of continental unity and self-reliance.
On governance and land matters, President Museveni cautioned elected local government leaders—from LC I to LC V—against neglecting their constitutional duty to protect citizens’ interests, particularly in resolving land conflicts. He reminded leaders that the Constituent Assembly resolved land issues by clearly defining land tenure systems, outlawing illegal evictions, and placing regulation of land premiums under government authority. According to the President, most land conflicts stem from failure by political leaders to enforce the law.
He further warned civil servants against abusing privileged information to facilitate land fraud, calling for the arrest of those involved. This follows complaints from leaders in the Bunyoro Sub-region about individuals sponsoring land conflicts in mineral-rich areas using insider knowledge of mineral deposits. President Museveni described such actions as criminal and revealed plans to gazette mineral-rich areas to prevent future conflicts.
On regional security, the President pledged to direct the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to counter Congolese aggressors reportedly causing insecurity on Lake Albert.
Politically, President Museveni challenged his competitors in the presidential race to clearly articulate their alternative strategies for East African regional integration, market expansion, and their ideological positions on patriotism.
Turning to education, the President emphasized that free universal education in government schools is central to building a strong national human resource base. He warned that charging fees in public schools undermines this objective and urged all education stakeholders to support free universal education unconditionally. He noted that broad academic empowerment has both qualitative and quantitative benefits for Uganda’s development.
On the oil and gas sector, President Museveni revealed plans to expand national oil exploitation beyond the current 40 percent concentration in the Albertine Graben. He noted that over 60 percent of oil reserves in the region remain untapped, while other parts of the country have also been confirmed to contain exploitable oil resources. He stressed that oil revenues will be strictly invested in durable, strategic, and sovereign projects.
Addressing the fishing sector, the President said illegal fishing practices and uncontrolled access to lakes have severely damaged the industry. He outlined proposed reforms, including regulation of fishing populations on water bodies, introduction of fishing holidays to allow restocking, a ban on fishing in breeding areas, and restoration of indigenous fishing communities as custodians of the sector.
President Museveni concluded by reaffirming the National Resistance Movement’s commitment to peace, development, and wealth creation as pillars of Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
That concludes highlights from H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s media interaction with journalists from the Bunyoro Sub-region at Nakasero State Lodge
