President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called for a major socio-economic transformation across Uganda and Africa, warning that the continent cannot achieve meaningful development while a large section of the population remains outside the formal money economy.
Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), said Uganda must move away from subsistence livelihoods by transforming peasants and “bayaaye” into productive citizens engaged in sectors that drive economic growth.
The President made the remarks on Friday, July 10, 2026, while presiding over the graduation ceremony of 21 participants — 20 senior military officers and one public servant from the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs — who completed the strategic leadership course at the National Defence College-Uganda (NDC-U) in Njeru, Buikwe District.
Congratulating the graduates, Museveni challenged them to use their strategic knowledge to promote policies that advance Uganda’s socio-economic transformation while supporting the wider goal of African integration.
He identified socio-economic transformation as one of the key pillars necessary to secure Uganda and the continent against current and future threats.
“The economy of Uganda must undergo socio-economic transformation whereby all the peasants and the bayaaye must disappear and the country gets a new society,” Museveni said.
The President explained that every Ugandan should participate in the money economy through four key productive sectors — commercial agriculture, manufacturing and artisanship, services, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
He argued that transforming the livelihoods of citizens is critical not only for economic growth but also for national security, as a productive population strengthens a country’s resilience against internal and external challenges.
Museveni also emphasized the importance of universal education, describing it as another critical driver of development that equips citizens with skills needed to participate effectively in the modern economy.
However, the President cautioned that economic progress alone is not enough to guarantee strategic security, saying African countries must also address their political and security vulnerabilities.
He renewed his call for the East African Federation and broader African economic and political integration, arguing that fragmented states face limitations in defending themselves and advancing their interests in an increasingly competitive global environment.
According to Museveni, a united Africa would have stronger economic capacity, improved bargaining power, and enhanced defence capabilities to respond to emerging security threats.
During the ceremony, the President also pledged Shs50 billion towards the expansion and modernization of the National Defence College-Uganda, which trains senior leaders in strategic thinking, security management, and national development.
He said strengthening institutions such as NDC-U is essential in preparing leaders capable of addressing complex challenges facing Uganda and the continent.
By Newsroom
10th July 2026
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