President Yoweri Museveni has firmly asserted that foreign influences pose no threat to Uganda’s sovereignty or economic progress, following sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom and the United States on several key Ugandan officials.
These sanctions target Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and ministers Goreti Kitutu, Agnes Nandutu, and Amos Lugolobi, in response to the controversial Anti-Homosexuality Act passed in May 2023 under Among’s leadership.
In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered yesterday, Museveni emphasized Uganda’s resilience and independence. “Uganda’s economy and society are moving forward, despite the mistakes by some actors. Foreign interference in our internal affairs is not a threat at all. No foreigner can intimidate us…nobody can threaten us,” he declared.
Museveni also called for greater unity within the East African community, urging the adoption of the Common Market Protocol and Customs Union Protocols to merge the fragmented markets of East Africa into a cohesive single market. He announced a directive to halt the export of raw minerals, advocating for local processing to add value to the country’s resources.
Highlighting Uganda’s economic achievements, Museveni proudly stated that the country has reached lower middle-income status with a per capita income of USD 1,182. “We have just entered the ground floor of the middle income. Just the first floor…we are down there now,” he remarked.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among reinforced the President’s message, describing the SONA as a moment to reflect on Uganda’s accomplishments over the past year, address inherent challenges, and outline the government’s legislative agenda for the future. She urged MPs to stay focused despite external criticisms and sanctions.
“We are aware that leadership often comes with the risk of being misunderstood, criticized, opposed, accused, sanctioned, or even rejected. But we owe it to our society to stand firm,” Among stated.
Museveni’s bold stance and call for regional unity signal Uganda’s determination to maintain its sovereignty and continue its economic development, undeterred by foreign pressures.