Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni. FILE PHOTO | AFP
Study the history of Africa and learn from the factors that have
impeded economic growth and political unity, Uganda's President Yoweri
Museveni has urged the youth.
He made the remarks at a
public lecture at Kenyatta University in Kiambu County at the tail end
of his three-day state visit to Kenya on Friday.
According
to Mr Museveni, the impact of slavery, genocides, colonialism, and
neo-colonialism in modern day Africa has had a great effect on
integration.
“Africa remains in poverty in the era of
affluence. Africa is still suffering from underdevelopment while
artificial intelligence is threatening to replace humans in the
workplace.
“How could Africa that was the first in
many fields, the cradle of mankind be the last and for so long, since
600 years ago?” posed President Museveni in his address titled
"Integration in Africa", even as he urged the continent to re-examine
what is dragging it behind.
He urged the youth not to
concentrate too much on music, football and the internet, saying as the
generation to drive the integration agenda, they needed to study
Africa's and the region's history.
Meanwhile, the police used teargas to disperse rowdy students who were shouting pro-Bobi Wine chants outside the varsity's amphitheatre while President Museveni was giving the public lecture.
Youthful Ugandan singer turned politician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, has
energised and emboldened Uganda's youth, and those in the region, for
his outspoken opposition to the veteran president in power since 1986.
Agreements
Uganda has been the biggest beneficially of the President's visit.
With his Kenyan host, President Uhuru Kenyatta, the two leaders announced several agreements set to benefit both countries.
Some
of the pacts are Uganda to increase its sugar exports to Kenya from
36,000 metric tonnes to 90,000 metric tonnes annually; Nairobi to lift
ban on Uganda's poultry; Kampala to also lift suspension of beef imports
from Kenya.
Kenya has offered Uganda a parcel of land
in Naivasha to build a dry port, while Kampala has pledged to use the
Kisumu oil jetty, shifting movement of petroleum products from the road
to pipelines and through Lake Victoria.
Both leaders
also agreed to address the outstanding border dispute over the island of
Migingo, and promised a new border commission to relook the border.
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