President Yoweri Museveni delivered the anticipated State-of-the-Nation Address yesterday at Kololo Independence Grounds, offering insights on key issues and charting a way forward for the nation. However, he overlooked several pressing concerns that affect many Ugandans. Below are are the main points of the address.
President Museveni once again tackled the persistent issue of corruption, this time targeting a syndicate involving the Ministry of Finance, Parliament, and State House staff accused of accepting bribes from investors to facilitate crucial meetings. Museveni vowed to eradicate corruption, describing those involved as both corrupt and traitors who serve foreign interests.
“These are both corrupt and traitors, and we are monitoring their activities. If they do not stop, and with evidence, we shall deal with them,” he warned.
Addressing the exploitation of Ugandans by moneylenders charging exorbitant interest rates, President Museveni announced he had instructed the Finance Ministry to cap these rates. He questioned why commercial banks charge up to 20% interest when Uganda's inflation rate is only 3%.
“I have already directed the Minister of Finance to cap the interest rates chargeable by moneylenders. The inflation rate in Uganda is 3 percent. Why should the commercial banks charge 20 percent interest?” he pondered.
Traders in Uganda have reason to celebrate after Museveni and Kenyan President William Ruto agreed to eliminate non-tariff barriers on specific commodities to facilitate cross-border trade. This agreement aims to resolve long-standing trade disputes that have seen Kenya block Ugandan products like eggs and milk. Museveni urged East Africans to insist on full free trade within the East African Community (EAC) and eventually throughout the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA).
"Let all the East Africans insist on full free trade in the EAC area and, eventually, in the whole Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA),” Museveni stated.
During the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations on June 3, Museveni warned that those opposing the country’s leaders over the Anti-Homosexuality Act would fail. He reiterated this message in his address, emphasizing Uganda's resilience against foreign pressures.
“The corrupt are like foreigners, some of whom do not know Uganda. I am very sorry for them because they do not know how strong we are. But if you make a mistake, you will see. Those who threaten us, you are wasting your time. We are not going to move. This is our land. We want nothing from anybody,” he declared to cheers from the audience.
Continuing his advocacy for wealth creation, President Museveni urged Ugandans to combat poverty through commercial agriculture. He encouraged the use of funds from the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, and loans from the Uganda Development Bank to support these efforts.
Despite the sanctions imposed by the United States and the United Kingdom on senior Ugandan officials, including Speaker Anita Among, Museveni did not address this issue. Many Ugandans hoped for clarity on the implications of these sanctions and their potential impact on Uganda, but Museveni only commended Among and other Members of Parliament for their work.
“I hear some people saying that [Speaker] Anita Among is perhaps not powerful enough because she does not undermine the Executive. But that’s not the case,” he said. “In the past, there was a risky and shallow tendency by some actors who tried to use Parliament to undermine the Ugandan revolution. This was a miscalculation that was provocative, but we managed to handle it, peacefully,” he added.
With crime rates rising, particularly involving young men committing violent acts, many Ugandans expected the President to address this issue and propose solutions. However, Museveni did not focus on the security measures needed to curb these growing vices.
Following a May 7 meeting with traders who requested a delay in the implementation of EFRIS, many expected updates on this issue. Traders had expressed concerns about the system's user-friendliness, but Museveni did not provide any new information in his address.
The high cost of living continues to burden many Ugandans, with essential items, including fuel, remaining expensive. Despite this, Museveni did not address the issue in his speech, leaving many citizens without the answers they sought on how the government plans to alleviate their economic struggles.
In conclusion, while President Museveni's address touched on several significant topics, it left many important issues unaddressed, leaving Ugandans with mixed reactions.
