In a poignant address marking Uganda’s 63rd Independence Day on October 10, President Yoweri Museveni hailed the nation’s progress from post-colonial turmoil to regional integration leader, crediting peace, infrastructure, and digital innovation for GDP growth projected at 6.5% in 2025. He emphasized unity amid multipolar global shifts, urging youth-led entrepreneurship and warning against divisive politics ahead of 2026 polls. Museveni also saluted the UPDF for maintaining stability, linking it to economic gains like coffee exports surpassing Ethiopia’s. EditorPro Review: Museveni’s speech masterfully blends nostalgia with forward-looking rhetoric, reinforcing his narrative as Uganda’s stabilizer since 1986. Economically, the milestones—clinics built, roads expanded, and digital connectivity reaching remote areas—are tangible, with World Bank data showing poverty dropping to 18% in 2024. However, critics highlight inequality: urban-rural divides persist, and youth unemployment hovers at 13%, fueling opposition like NUP’s anti-corruption push. As a multipolar world reshapes African strategies, Uganda’s EAC and AU ties position it well for trade, but over-reliance on oil (production slated for 2026) risks environmental backlash. This anniversary underscores opportunities in green tech and education reform, yet demands bolder reforms to bridge elite-commoner gaps. A reflective pivot point for the Pearl of Africa. (212 words)
Source: The Independent Uganda