LIVE UPDATES: Museveni addresses the EALA Assembly in Kampala

 

EAT4:49: I find it easier to say I am an African than a Ugandan. These borders are not very logical. We recognise them but they should not be used to block us. They don’t have that cultural meaning since they were created by people who had their interests. We should, therefore, create the borders according to our African interests. 

EAT4:45: On side of governments, we are working with leaders like Putin of Russia and the President of China about the East African master plan on energy and roads. We are negotiating to have the Mombasa- Kasese- Pakwach railway line. The Dar es Salaam-Kigoma, Bihanga-Rwanda railway line, a line linking Rwanda-Burundi- Tanzania, Juba-South Sudan-Gulu- Kisangani. Fortunately, we have oil and gas reserves in the region. This is the time to move on economic and political integration.

EAT4:31: Indonesia, China want to work with us but were still weak and disorganised.  The internal weaknesses in Africa must be addressed.  Africa should have one voice to be strong. EALA should sensitise East Africans. If you spread the gospel of EALA in the region, you will have a lot of influence. You should also push for better integration of the East African Community.

EAT4:22: Africa should not hide behind the colonial experience we went through. We should not lament.  Why were we colonised in the first place? People in the world don’t follow Christianity or Islam, that preaches forgiveness and the theory of not taking advantage of poor people but they just follow their greed. Africa tempted colonialists to colonise and take whatever we had.  Why are we weak?

Even slave trade was perpetuated by Africans. Africans would raid their colleagues and sell them to Europeans. Who were taking the slaves from the interior? These were chiefs who were greed.

EAT4:19: Investment opportunities that are undeveloped should be developed. This is Africa’s new chance. The partners like USA should not be worried that the south (Africa, Asia and Latin America, Indonesia, China) are developing. The north that is Europe and USA should not be worried. This is an opportunity for them to benefit from global prosperity. In the past, prosperity was only in Europe, Japan and USA but surrounded by a sea of backwardness and poverty.

EAT4:15: These former colonies and semi-colonised countries like China would have developed earlier but they were disorganised. These emperors like being pampered. Being referred to as your majesty, instead of working, they are just there in artificial self-importance. China was disorganised because of this kind of leaders.

EAT4:11: The good news is that the political freedom is turning into economic freedom. The social economic transformation in China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Caribbean and eventually in Africa has contributed to world economic growth.

Africa regained her freedom and independence on account of; continued resistance against colonialism, the inter-imperialist wars and the support we got from the socialist block like China, Russia and Cuba. These factors could not allow colonialists keep us in bondage.