President Museveni has called for a shift from historical disputes to a strategic, development-focused approach in addressing challenges facing the Nile Basin, emphasizing that Africa’s future depends on electrification, industrialization, and regional integration.
Speaking at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, Museveni delivered a lecture to a delegation from the Egyptian Armed Forces Staff and Command College, led by Egypt’s Ambassador to Uganda, Monzer Selim, and Maj. Gen. Khaled Elnahraway.
The President criticized the persistent focus on colonial-era agreements governing the Nile, arguing that such debates distract from the real challenges affecting the river.
“I have been discussing this with Egyptian leaders for a long time. They always talk about the old agreements with the British, but I tell them that the problem of the Nile is not those agreements,” Museveni said.
He instead identified underdevelopment in tropical countries, particularly the lack of electricity, as the root cause of the Nile’s challenges.
“The problem of the Nile, number one, is the lack of electricity in the tropics. When people don’t have electricity, they depend on biomass, and that is the real danger,” he said.
Museveni explained that reliance on biomass, such as firewood and charcoal, accelerates environmental degradation and threatens water systems.
“When you have a big population that is not industrialized, people encroach on forests and wetlands for agriculture. That is why the answer is industrialisation, so that people do not depend on agriculture alone,” he noted.
He also cited climate change, driven largely by emissions from industrialized nations, as a contributing factor to declining water levels.
The President revealed that water flow from Uganda to South Sudan has fallen significantly over the decades.
“In the 1960s, the water flow was about 60 billion cubic metres, but now it has reduced to about 40 billion cubic metres,” he said.
He called for a comprehensive master plan for the Nile Basin centered on electrification and industrial growth.
“I always tell them, let us have a master plan for transforming the Nile Valley through electrification and industrialisation,” Museveni added.
Contrasting the Nile with the Congo River, Museveni highlighted Africa’s untapped potential.
“The Nile has about 85 billion cubic metres of water at Khartoum, but the Congo River has about 3,000 billion cubic metres. The Congo can provide the equivalent of about 30 Niles if there is peace and cooperation,” he explained.
Museveni outlined Africa’s three historical missions: prosperity, strategic security, and brotherhood. “Prosperity does not come from begging. If aid created prosperity, Latin America would be very rich, but they are still struggling. Prosperity comes from producing goods and services with calculation, selling them, and accessing markets,” he said.
He stressed the importance of patriotism and Pan-Africanism. “You need patriotism because you need Uganda for your own prosperity. But when you produce more, Uganda alone is not enough, that is why we talk about Pan-Africanism,” he added.
On security, the President argued that African countries must integrate to compete globally. “Some global actors are talking about superiority on land, at sea, in the air, and in space. For us, even if Uganda becomes a first-class country, it is too small. Integration gives us size and strength,” he said.
Museveni emphasized that socio-economic transformation in tropical countries is essential to safeguard the Nile Basin.
“The tropics must move from primitive agriculture to industry and services. Only a few people should remain in agriculture, and they should be skilled,” he said, warning that continued dependence on biomass poses a serious risk.
“We must protect the Nile from two dangers — primitive agriculture and lack of electricity. If we continue destroying biomass, the impact will be severe,” he cautioned.
He also highlighted the importance of Africa’s natural water towers, including the Rwenzori Mountains, Mount Kenya, and Mount Elgon, in sustaining rainfall systems. “The problem is not water in Africa; it is ideological. Africa’s solutions are known, but people are not focusing on the right issues,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Khaled Elnahraway, speaking on behalf of the delegation, commended Uganda for its hospitality and the insights shared during the visit.
“We are honoured to meet Your Excellency and to visit one of the leading training institutions in Uganda. What we have seen is far beyond what we knew from the media,” he said.
The delegation also visited Jinja and witnessed the source of the Nile, describing it as a vital resource for both Uganda and Egypt.
“We look forward to strengthening cooperation and building stronger ties with Uganda and the African continent,” he added.
