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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is championing the formation of an East African Political Federation to promote prosperity among member states.

Museveni, the chief guest during the closing ceremony for the Piny Luo Cultural Festival on Thursday, emphasised the need for East African states to focus on goods and services that promote Pan-Africanism.

“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 market,” he said.

He called on Kenyans to move past tribal loyalties and focus on patriotism by espousing the strengths of the nation that 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 social economic transformation, changing the culture to become modern,” Museveni noted.

Security concerns

African states, he said, have lagged in naval and space defence compared with others, highlighting a major security concern in the years ahead.

“We don’t know what’s happening to the moon. The Americans, the Russians, the Chinese and the Indians have gone there, and for us, we are here satisfied. This is very worrying,” he said.

“When President Ruto invited me, I had to come. Christmas is just about eating meat. Where East Africans are gathered, I must come to warn them and tell them to wake up. Don’t say the elders didn’t tell you!”

Museveni called on African countries to work for unity of purpose and ensure inclusive growth and shared prosperity across the continent.

He emphasised the need to revisit the historical priorities of the continent, identifying the creation of prosperity for the people, strengthening strategic security, and promoting continental integration.

Meaningful change

He said the region supports Odinga’s candidacy for chairperson of the African Union Commission.

Those in positions of power across Africa, he said, have the authority to bring meaningful change to the continent.

“[Raila] will help us in brainstorming, but the real power is with us. We are in charge of these states. We are the ones who can say we move, and we move,” the Ugandan leader said.