1
SPEECH
BY
H.E YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
AT THE
63RD INDEPENDENCE DAY
9TH OCTOBER 2025
Her Excellency the Vice President,
Speaker,
Chief Justice,
Deputy Speaker,
Deputy Chief Justice,
Prime Minister,
Ministers,
MPs,
Cultural leaders,
Spiritual leaders and the Wanainchi.
Greetings and congratulations on the 63rd Anniversary of Uganda's Independence. Initially, the journey of Uganda's independence was not smooth. By the 10th Anniversary, Uganda was under a vicious dictatorship and by the 20th Anniversary (1982), the small Colonial enclave economy of the 3Cs and 3Ts (Coffee, cotton and copper and tobacco, tea and tourism respectively), had collapsed and Uganda was depending on Magendo ( smuggling), 2
Kibaanda ( forex black market) and Kusamula (speculation).
In addition to the collapse of the economy, Constitutional governance, democracy and security of person and property, had also collapsed. Indeed, between 1971 and 1986, an estimated 800,000 Ugandans were killed extra-judicially. In the Luwero Triangle alone, there are 33 mass-graves, each with more than 2000 skulls (obuwanga).
It is from this situation that the NRM rescued Uganda. I am, therefore, most happy to report to the Ugandans that by June, 2026, the economy of Uganda will be USD 66.9 billion in size using the forex method and USD 197.9 billion using the PPP method. This financial year, the economy will grow by 7%. After the flow of oil, the economy will grow by double-digits.
It is important to be reminded that this economy was USD 3.9 billion in 1986. Since that time, I have told you before, the economy has gone through the following five phases: the minimum economic recovery of some of the 3CS and the 3Ts and the ending of the shortages (ebura) of the so called essential commodities; expansion of the economy e.g coffee, tea, etc; diversification by taking on board 3
new items from the list of subsistence items to commercial production such as milk, beef, bananas, fruits, cassava, etc; value addition to all the raw-materials where the economics is right; and the knowledge economy of science, technology and innovation.
Uganda is, therefore, unstoppable. The only other issues we need to concentrate on, are two. These are: the economic integration of East Africa to ensure a big market for the wealth-creators of East Africa and the political integration of East Africa resulting into the political federation of East Africa that will deal with the strategic situation of East Africa and even Africa. A Federation of the East African States, would create a center of gravity for the black race and would create a defense potential that defends East Africa against all and any threats. I believe that it would have capacity to be present in all spheres of strategic security: air ( air-force); Land ( land-forces); Sea (navy); and space (satellites).
We are moving well in all sectors. We need, however, to get rid of some mistaken approach. This is the practice of Kumemerera (Kumamila, Pworo, etc) —scattering resources and trying to be everywhere and ending up being nowhere. On the roads we have 4
moved well. In 1986, we had 1,000km of tarmac roads. We now have 6,288km of tarmac roads. However, because of the mistake of okumemerera, some of the tarmac roads that were due for repair or reconstruction, were not attended to in time. Hence, you have some very good roads like the ones in Bunyoro, Lango, Karamoja, etc. However, you also have roads that have deteriorated because of delaying to rehabilitate or even reconstruct them. This kumemerera, makes budgeters trying to put money into Administration (new Districts, Cities, etc), salaries, infrastructure, wealth creation, etc, scattering money thin over so many sectors and achieving little across board. That is why in 2006, I made a very firm stand insisting on ensuring priorities among priorities. I insisted on putting more money on the roads and electricity. Hence, the budget for the Ministry of Works moved from Sh 373.9 Billion in 2005 to Sh 1,215 billion by 2010. The one of electricity moved from Sh. 133.47 billion in 2005 to Sh. 698.9 billion in 2010 . That is how we were able to do so many roads such as Olwiyo – Gulu – Kitgum – Musiingo; Soroti – Katakwi – Moroto; Mbarara – Kyikagate; etc. We were also able to extend electricity to almost all the districts of Uganda. The current backlog of repair and 5
reconstruction of a number of roads, is on account of not maintaining that prioritization among priorities. Through internal discussions in the Government and public engagements, we are tackling this issue of trying to do so many things at the same time and, therefore, Kumemerera (scattering thin) resources. Fortunately for Uganda, our oil is about to start flowing. That will enable us to do more work at the same time. Even with the oil money, however, my strong proposal is that we concentrate budgeting initially on: defence; the roads (tarmac and murram); electricity; education; health; water for drinking and for irrigation; the railway; wealth creation ( PDM, UDB, Ghetto funds etc); science and innovation (Kira Motors, Magoola, etc); and salaries for some public servants such as Government Scientists, the judiciary, the security personnel, etc. The economy is growing fast. With this proper prioritization, we shall soon be able to have enough money to cover more sectors. However, when you interfere with the above minimum areas of focus, you interfere with our economy's ability to grow. How would our economy be growing at 7% if I had not, in 2006, insisted on prioritizing the roads and electricity? It is the more availability of 6
electricity that is encouraging the rapid industrialization.
The URA needs to solve the issue of revenue losses. They are still collecting only 13-14 % of GDP in taxes. If they were collecting 20% of GDP in taxes, with the GDP size of USD 66.9 billion, we would be collecting about Uganda shillings 47 trillion in taxes. This would be a good level of Government revenues. With the careful budgeting talked about above and without the burden of paying debts that have the interest of Uganda Sh 11.3 trillion per year, we would be quite comfortable plus the robust growth we are already enjoying. The indiscipline in budgeting and revenue collection, creates unnecessary distractions and delays in our development tempo. With the discipline I am demanding, even without our oil, which will start flowing soon, our economy will hit the USD 500 billion in the coming years.
As our economy has been growing, so has been our capacity to support the social services. These are education and health. Very good progress has been registered in those areas. In spite of the population of Uganda growing from 14 million in 1986 to 46 million in 2024, infant mortality has fallen from 119 7
deaths per 1,000 live births in the first year of life to 28 deaths; life expectancy has gone from 43 years to 68 years; and the literacy rate has gone from 43% in 1986 to 80% today; etc. With a bigger economy, the quality of our people's lives will continue to improve. One of the outcomes of the expanded education, has been the growing number of our scientists and their innovations. Our scientists have made innovations in automobiles, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, electronics, etc. It is so pleasing. That is why correct and realistic budgeting, is crucial.
Finally, I need to salute the peace-loving Ugandans and the UPDF for ensuring peace in Uganda. All that is happening is, first and foremost, on account of the peace that is available. This peace is lubricated by the long-standing NRM policy of reconciliation and forgiveness on top of our firm stand against crime. Even today, I am happy to welcome back into the peaceful Uganda, Col. Samson Mande that had fled into exile on account of, apparently, some internal intrigue. While in exile, he tried to engage in some rebel activities. When, however, our Cadres contacted him in Sweden, he happily agreed to come back and disconnect himself from the rebel activities. I remember Samson Mande in 1979 operating as a volunteer scout for the Task Force 8
Division of the TPDF under Major–General Silas Mayunga in Mbarara. I was commanding the 9000 strong Fronasa fighting force. Later, Mande did a good job as commander of the 15th battalion in the Siege of Masaka in 1985 and in subsequent assignments.
We welcome him.
I wish all Ugandans a happy and successful end to 2025 and a happy and successful 2026. With God's blessings, we shall meet here again in 2026.
Thanks to everybody.
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA. 9