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Uganda celebrated this Sunday the 60th anniversary of its independence, obtained on October 9, 1962. During a ceremony closed to the general public, but in the presence of 800 official guests, including the presidents of Kenya, Burundi, Somalia and Sudan from South, the Ugandan Head of State, Yoweri Museveni, highlighted the importance, 60 years following the end of the British protectorate, of regional integration for the economic development of East Africa.
With our correspondent in Kampala, Lucie Mouillaud
During more than an hour of speech, President Yoweri Museveni defended his economic record, highlighting his fight for the industrialization of the country, and the end of the export of raw materials without added value.
This crime of giving away Africa’s resources for a pittance applies to copper, cobalt, tin, coltan, etc. No wonder African youth have no jobs and have to travel abroad to find work bordering on slavery. That’s what I’m fighting here in Uganda, it’s regarding survival and prosperity.
In his address, the Head of State highlights the importance of regional integration and Pan-Africanism for the development of the East African community.
He defends the oil project in Uganda, a few weeks following the resolution of the European Parliament pinning down the EACOP project to build an oil pipeline to the Tanzanian port of Tanga.
East Africans should not be afraid and think that these arrogant people can stop the oil project in East Africa. If any actor tries to delay our project, we will firmly address this betrayal in accordance with applicable law. And we will develop all aspects of the project with our partners.
« Nobody can make us fail he says, while the start of Ugandan oil extraction is scheduled for 2025.
These 60 years have been quite eventful. And despite the many problems over these 60 years, Uganda is now on its feet, and moving forward. And in terms of our ideology, we have discovered that in order to bring our people to prosperity, through the production and sale of goods and services, we must insist on our four principles. And these values are those of patriotism: love Uganda, pan-Africanism, that is to say love Africa, socio-economic transformation, and democracy.
Excerpt from Yoweri Museveni’s speech for the 60th anniversary of independence
William Ruto calls for the development of regional integration
Among the Heads of State from the East African region who addressed the podium was the new President of Kenya. William Ruto called for the development of regional integration.
“I want to ask our entrepreneurs, our businessmen, investors in the region, to take advantage of the infrastructure provided by the East African Community and the African Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECA), to transform our region. There is absolutely no reason food should not be available in our area. If there is food in Uganda, it should be able to find its way to Kenya. If there are opportunities in Kenya, Ugandans should have access to those opportunities. Our businessmen should exploit these opportunities, take advantage of our friendship as East Africans, free us from foreign markets, and create jobs for the millions of young people in our region, so that we can create wealth. , share opportunities and prosperity. »
Maama Janet and I joined Their Excellencies, Heads of Government and State, Officials and Dignitaries present and fellow Ugandans in a scientific celebration to mark Uganda’s 60th Independence anniversary at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. pic.twitter.com/SQsQZqGzmj
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) October 9, 2022
On the same subject
►Sound archive: October 9, 1962 : Independence of Uganda
►Témoignage : Joyce Mpanga remembers 9 October 1962, Uganda’s Independence Day
►Guest Africa: “We present the country as a success, but on the democratic level it is quite the opposite”
