President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assumed the chairmanship of the East African Community (EAC) Summit, taking over from William Ruto, President of Kenya, following the conclusion of the Heads of State meeting at the Arusha International Conference Centre in Arusha, Tanzania.
In his first remarks as the new chairperson, Museveni thanked regional leaders for entrusting him with the responsibility of guiding the bloc over the next year and conveyed greetings from the people of Uganda.
He said East Africa stands at a critical moment in its history and urged both leaders and citizens to remain focused on the continent’s long-standing mission of transformation and development.
Museveni reflected on what he described as the challenge of “Okukonesa,” a metaphor drawn from local languages that refers to food failing to cook properly because it is not exposed to enough heat for sufficient time.
President Museveni used the expression to illustrate what he called the “mis-cooking” of Africa’s revolution, warning that the continent must avoid repeating mistakes that contributed to colonisation and underdevelopment.
The president argued that weak leadership, disunity, and the failure to embrace science and technology historically undermined Africa’s progress.
He noted that by 1900, almost the entire continent had fallen under colonial rule, largely due to divisions among African societies and the inability of leaders to respond strategically to foreign encroachment.
Despite this history, Museveni said Africa endured because of the resilience of its people and the emergence of liberation movements both on the continent and within the diaspora.
He said the African liberation struggle has always pursued four main objectives: liberation, modernisation, prosperity, and strategic security. According to Museveni, the foundation for achieving these goals lies in the principle of “Uhuru na Umoja” – freedom and unity.
While Africa has largely achieved political independence, he said the task of achieving deeper unity remains incomplete.
President Museveni stressed that regional economic integration is essential for prosperity, noting that production alone cannot create wealth without access to large and reliable markets.
He pointed out that Africa’s combined GDP remains relatively small compared to major global economies, arguing that fragmented markets across the continent continue to limit economic transformation.
Drawing lessons from countries such as China, India, and South Korea, Museveni said large internal markets have been key drivers of industrialization and economic growth.
The president therefore called on the region, particularly young people, to focus on building productive economies, strengthening regional integration, and avoiding distractions that could derail long-term development goals.
He also highlighted the importance of strategic security, noting that modern states must be capable of defending themselves across all domains, land, air, sea, and space, while working together to safeguard stability across the East African region.
