Published on 19/09/2024
In a heartfelt address on his 80th birthday, Uganda’s President, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has shared a powerful vision rooted in Pan-Africanism, reflecting on decades of struggle and hope for Africa’s future.
In a heartfelt message first made public through his official X Account on Tuesday, September 17, Museveni who turned 80 on September 15, expressed gratitude for the birthday wishes and revealed his profound birthday wish; one centred on the dreams of African unity and progress.
The president emphasized the importance of realizing the long-held aspirations of African leaders, notably the creation of the East African Political Federation and the strengthening of the Continental Free Trade Area.
“These are in order to achieve the 3 historical missions of: ensuring prosperity for the wealth creators and all Africans by creating a big market for our products; ensuring our strategic security against all threats to us on Land, in the Air, at the Sea and in Space by creating powerful integrated defence systems of the Political Federations where feasible; and using the brotherhood of the African Peoples to achieve these two-prosperity and strategic security,” the President noted.
Citing revered African figures such as Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, and Tom Mboya, Mr Museveni highlighted the struggles these leaders had endured alongside the younger generation to secure a better future for Africa.
He recalled the wisdom of Mwalimu Nyerere, who had once offered to delay Tanganyika’s independence so that Uganda and Kenya could gain independence simultaneously, forming a united country. He expressed regret that this offer had been declined, believing it could have shaped Africa differently.
With a firm belief in the brotherhood of African nations, Museveni urged the people of Africa to continue striving for unity and warned that failing to realize this dream might see Africa replicate the mistakes of Latin America, a region divided by national interests instead of working towards the ideal of a United States of Africa.
Below is Museveni’s full message on 80th Birthday
Fellow Ugandans and, especially, the Bazzukulu.
Greetings. So many thanks to all the Ugandans who wished me good luck and congratulated me on my 80th birthday, here below is my birthday wish:
“Fellow Ugandans and fellow Africans, pray and work hard for the realization of the dream of the Pan-Africanists for the creation of the East African Political Federation and the consolidation of the Continental Free Trade Area. These are in order to achieve the 3 historical missions of: ensuring prosperity for the wealth creators and all Africans by creating a big market for our products; ensuring our strategic-security against all threats to us on Land, in the Air, at the Sea and in Space by creating powerful integrated defence systems of the Political Federations where feasible; and using the brotherhood of the African Peoples to achieve these two-prosperity and strategic security.”
This is what our elders- Wazee, Mwalimu Nyerere, Nkurumah, Modibo Keita, Sekou Toure, Jomo Kenyatta, Tom Mboya, Grace Ibingira, Mwai Kibaki, Arap Moi, Jaramogi Odinga, Ngombale-Mwiru, Joseph Nyerere, Joe Murumbi, Abeid Karume, etc., with us the young People behind them, have been struggling for, for all these years.
Mwalimu Nyerere, offered to delay the independence of Tanganyika so as for Uganda and Kenya to become independent at the same time and become one country. It was a mistake not to take up this offer. Otherwise, Africa may become a Latin America in Africa instead of being a United States of Africa in Africa.
God bless all of us.
Signed.
Yoweri K Museveni
Ssaabalwanyi,
Omugurusi
