Moving freely, trading with each other will end poverty, says Museveni
L-R: Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto and AUC candidate Raila Odinga arrive for the 4th edition of Piny Luo cultural festival in Bondo, Siaya county on January 2, 2024.
What you need to know:
- President Museveni emphasised the need for East Africa Community (EAC) citizens to move freely and trade in goods and services to build the region’s economy.
President Museveni is advocating an effective and operational larger East African Common Market to create wealth for its citizens and promote regional integration.
President Museveni emphasised the need for East Africa Community (EAC) citizens to move freely and trade in goods and services to build the region’s economy.
He cited four sectors, agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, and sports as key economic drivers that can be harnessed to create wealth within the EAC.
“Because I can see many youth here, I want to leave you with a number of things: one is wealth. Where does it come from? The first is agriculture in business, second, manufacturing, services such as sports, tourism and fourthly use of computers or ICT,” he said.
“Agriculture, manufacturing and services are where wealth is created. However, all of these require a market. They need the Kenyan market, even though the Kenyan market alone is not enough. That is why we talk about EAC integration. Even as you get involved in sports, the youth in sports should pay attention to the EAC integration process and make use of its larger market.”
He was speaking on Thursday in Siaya, western Kenya, where he was the chief guest at the Piny Luo Cultural Festival.
President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga, East Africa’s candidate for chairperson of the African Union Commission, also attended the event.
Museveni renewed his call for the removal of trade barriers within the region.
He said that the region remains poor because it has failed to convert subsistence farming into a commercially viable, large-scale farming to create wealth.
He pointed out that countries such as the US, which have strong economies due to large markets while their, Latin America neighbours, though possessing huge natural resources, remain poor because of lack of large markets.
“I’m a dairy farmer, but I need a market for my milk and bananas. The Ugandan market is not enough. That is why I’m telling you in East Africa to unite under the Common Market,” the head of state said.
He emphasised the historical priorities of the continent, which he identified as the creation of prosperity for the people, establishment of strategic security against threats and promotion of the integration of the continent.
He urged Kenyans to move past tribal affiliations and espouse the strengths of the nation which will ultimately propel Pan-Africanism.
“For prosperity, you must love Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania but, secondly, the Ugandan market is not enough and that’s why the second principle of our movement is Pan-Africanism, and principle number three is socioeconomic transformation, changing the culture to become modern,” Museveni noted.
He said the EAC is looking forward to a political federation that would open up the region for business and economic growth.
“The federation will deal with the issue of prosperity. Can you get prosperity by begging Americans for money? Each country produces a product and sells it. Once you talk of selling, you are talking of the market.”
President Museveni, together with his host Ruto, campaigned for Raila’s AUC candidature, saying his election is a strategy to promote and market the region on the continent.
