President Yoweri Museveni has called on army officers to protect Uganda from the divisive politics of identity, which he believes undermines national unity and the effectiveness of institutions like the military.
During a lecture at State House Entebbe to 77 officers from the Senior Command and Staff College Kimaka, Museveni emphasized that identity politics has hampered the prosperity of many African nations and must be discouraged. He cited Sudan as an example, where identity politics between Arabs, Africans, and religious groups have damaged the nation’s potential.
“You have seen what has happened in countries like Sudan which has got a lot of potential, but the leaders messed it up with the politics of identity between the ones who say they are Arabs or Africans and the Islamic groups against Christianity,” Museveni remarked. “When you go to Juba now, the goods there are from East African countries like Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania but in the past, most of the goods were from Khartoum but the leaders in Sudan destroyed their market with the politics of identity.”
Museveni, also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, recounted how identity politics had previously plagued Uganda, notably under Idi Amin’s regime, which expelled Asians and devastated the economy. He highlighted that since returning to power, his government has restored properties to expelled Asians, leading to economic growth. “Now we have about 600 factories built by these Indians. The economy of Uganda this year grew by 6% and will continue to grow more. The politics of identity is wrong politics and here in Uganda we rejected it,” he said.
The President pointed out that while Uganda’s economy has grown, the internal market remains insufficient. He stressed the need for broader markets in East Africa and the entire continent for sustained prosperity. “We need the East African market, and the market of the whole of Africa to ensure our prosperity. That’s why on top of patriotism — love Uganda, our second principle here is pan-Africanism. Therefore, we dismiss ethnic politics as backward,” Museveni asserted.
On security, Museveni noted that many African countries struggle to build strong national institutions like the army due to divisions based on ethnicity. He referenced the era of Idi Amin as a period when Uganda faced similar issues. Regarding the security situation in eastern DR Congo, Museveni warned that foreign interventions would be ineffective without resolving identity politics.
Maj. Gen. George Igumba, commandant of the Senior Command and Staff College Kimaka, reported that the 77 officers included 27 faculty members and 50 students, with 13 from foreign countries within the East African Community (EAC), South Africa, and Malawi. These students are set to graduate today.
“I am delighted to report to you that the college has lived up to expectations over the past 20 years of its existence and we are making strides in contributing to the professionalisation process of UPDF and the EAC forces through professional military training and education. Since its inception in 2004, the college has trained 726 officers from the EAC partner states and the Republic of South Africa,” Maj. Gen. Igumba told the President.
The Senior Command and Staff College Kimaka is Uganda’s premier military training institution, providing operational-level training for mid-level officers of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and allied foreign countries. The training aims to equip officers with essential skills in military science and peace support operations.
