President Museveni's Message Highlights Self-reliance and Critiques Foreign Aid

By Kundu Ronald

In a recent message delivered from State House in Entebbe, President Museveni reaffirmed his commitment to Uganda's self-reliance and criticized the role of foreign aid and loans in the country's social-economic transformation. The President argued that while aid and loans can be useful if executed by patriots, they often lead to distortion and hinder growth. He questioned the effectiveness of foreign aid in promoting growth, citing examples of African countries facing security and stability crises despite receiving grants and loans.

President Museveni pointed out instances of mismanagement of borrowed funds, where essential sectors like agriculture lacked necessary infrastructure and equipment despite significant loans. He also criticized external aid policies that obstructed the growth of domestic industries, like Uganda's pharmaceutical sector, due to imposed conditions.

The President outlined five key factors driving Uganda's social-economic transformation:

1. Unity around NRM principles: Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Social-economic transformation, and democracy.

2. A strong people's army that guaranteed peace and stability.

3. A thriving private sector, including farmers, manufacturers, investors in services, and innovators in various fields.

4. Crucial infrastructure development, such as roads, electricity, railways, and social infrastructure like education and health.

5. Market integration: Access to domestic, regional, and international markets.

President Museveni credited these factors for Uganda's remarkable economic growth, from USD 1.5 billion to USD 55 billion, and his vision to further increase the economy to USD 550 billion in the coming years. He emphasized the importance of domestic efforts and highlighted various sectors, including fisheries, maize production, cotton, milk, tea, coffee, cement, steel, ceramics, and others that contributed to Uganda's economic success.

While acknowledging the support from the World Bank and other actors in certain areas, President Museveni criticized their conditionalities and paternalistic approach in funding infrastructure projects. He advocated for support in key sectors like lowering electricity and transportation costs and improving access to credit for the private sector.

The President concluded by calling for an end to internal weaknesses, including neo-colonial influences in the civil service and political class, as well as corruption that hampers progress. President Museveni urged Ugandans to focus on their own development and not to be swayed by external provocations, while still valuing cooperative relationships with Western partners that align with Uganda's interests.

The President's message underscores his longstanding commitment to self-reliance and his vision for Uganda's socio-economic advancement through domestic efforts and the pursuit of national interests.