President has called on African leaders and young generations to prioritise regional integration and strategic planning, arguing that Africa’s long-term prosperity and security depend on unity rather than fragmented national interests.
Speaking during a lecture of opportunity to army officers at the Senior Staff College-Kimaka in Jinja on Tuesday, Museveni said Africa’s historical challenges were worsened by leaders during the colonial period who failed to recognise looming threats to the continent.
“The chiefs and kings were here glorifying themselves when their building was falling down. This strategic danger was known but neglected by kings and chiefs,” Museveni said.
Addressing military officers, the President said the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has for decades promoted what he described as historical missions aimed at transforming Uganda and Africa.
He identified economic prosperity as the first mission and emphasised the importance of integrating African markets to unlock development.
“We have been struggling with it so you the young people should continue with it instead of dancing pakachini and watching European football. If we don’t integrate we shall be in problems you people,” he said.
Museveni argued that economic integration alone is not enough, saying political integration remains necessary for Africa to guarantee its future security and global relevance.
“How can we go to the moon? We must go to the moon and find the Americans there, find the Chinese, Russians and Indians, we tell them that this also belongs to us,” he said.
He questioned whether individual African countries can independently develop major strategic capabilities such as space programmes and maritime access, blaming colonial borders for limiting collective progress.
“That’s why the answer there is political integration. We have been talking about the East African Integration but if Presidents want to remain big fish in the small ponds, then that issue will not be addressed,” he added.
The President also dismissed politics based on tribe and religion, describing identity politics as a setback to development.
“The politics of identity is politics of parasites,” Museveni said.
He further highlighted commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT as Uganda’s main drivers of job creation and wealth generation.
The lecture was attended by officers undertaking Senior Staff College intake 21–2025/2026, comprising participants from Uganda and several other African countries.
