President Yoweri Museveni has called on officers and students of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) undergoing training at the Armoured Warfare Training School in Karama, Mubende District, to reject divisive identity politics and instead focus on advancing Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.

Delivering a lecture at State House Entebbe, the President also the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF warned against the dangers of tribalism and sectarianism, which he said have historically undermined national unity and progress across Africa.

“In the past 500 years, Africa has faced immense challenges from the slave trade to colonialism and neo-colonialism largely due to weak and fragmented governance that left us vulnerable,” Museveni stated.

He attributed Africa’s fall to colonial rule to internal divisions, underscoring the critical role of unity in building resilience and national strength.

Museveni urged the UPDF to remain steadfast as an instrument of revolution, tasked with promoting the ideological foundations of Uganda’s progress: Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Socio-Economic Transformation, and Democracy.

These, he said, form the bedrock of Uganda’s historic missions ensuring prosperity, strategic security, and regional solidarity.

The President emphasized that Uganda’s economic future lies in self-sufficiency, not dependency on foreign aid. “Prosperity must come from within,” he said.

“It’s about producing a good or service, selling it with ekibaro (calculation), and building communities that generate income and improve living standards.”

He encouraged UPDF officers to think beyond the barracks and champion development by supporting production, trade, and expanded regional markets.

“To thrive economically, Uganda must look beyond its borders and adopt a Pan-African approach that fosters shared growth and security,” Museveni said.

In closing, he reiterated the army’s vital role in shaping Uganda’s destiny not just as a defense force, but as a key driver of national development and unity.

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