On October 8, 2026, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni closed the inaugural Conference of African Defence Chiefs on Military Operations Other Than War at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala. The four-day conference, which started on October 5, brought together defence chiefs, intelligence chiefs, and force commanders to discuss emerging complex security threats in Africa. President Museveni, also the Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), emphasized that Africa cannot effectively address security threats without confronting fundamental economic, political, and geopolitical factors.
President Museveni posed three crucial questions that African strategists must answer: Can a country have a strong army and a strong economy without a strong economic foundation? Can a country have a strong defence force and a strong economy without cohesive politics? Can a country have a strong defence force and a strong economy without addressing its geo-strategic location? He stressed that a country's economy, political system, and strategic position directly influence its ability to defend itself. The President highlighted that economic strength begins with wealth creation through the production of goods and services.
According to President Museveni, producing goods and services alone is not enough; countries must also secure markets for their products. He noted that local markets can be constrained when communities produce similar goods and services, making wider regional and continental markets essential. The President cited the example of Uganda, where people from different parts of the country can provide markets for one another's products, reinforcing the importance of patriotism and regional integration. This understanding informed the first ideological principle of the National Resistance Army (NRA), the UPDF, and the National Resistance Movement (NRM): patriotism.
President Museveni discussed the importance of Pan-Africanism and the common market, tracing the Pan-African movement to the founding of the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa in 1912. He argued that African unity remains important not only as a political ideal but also as an economic necessity. The President said a common African market would provide wealth creators with a larger and more reliable market while strengthening the economic foundations of African countries. This, in turn, would address the issue of wealth creators' prosperity by creating a huge and guaranteed market for them.
The President linked economic integration to continental security, arguing that regional political integration would enhance Africa's collective defence capabilities. He cited the possibility of a Federal Army of East Africa capable of protecting member states on land, at sea, in the air, and in space. President Museveni emphasized that Uganda alone, even when it is a developed country, may not be able to play such a role, but together, African countries can do the task more easily. He also highlighted the role of the UPDF and other defence institutions in supporting national development beyond conventional military operations.
On philosophy and strategy, President Museveni said African countries must clearly identify who should create wealth and why. He warned that if this is not answered correctly, the economy will not grow sustainably. The President said Uganda had identified the private sector as the principal engine of wealth creation, while the government should provide an enabling environment, infrastructure, and security. He used a biblical analogy to distinguish between an owner and a hired shepherd, arguing that those with a direct stake in an enterprise are more likely to protect and sustain it.
President Museveni concluded that answering questions about wealth creation, political cohesion, and national strategy correctly is "destiny shaping" for countries, while wrong answers can lead to instability and chaos. The conference, hosted by Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, aimed to strengthen adaptive noncombatant military response to emerging complex security threats in Africa. The President's remarks emphasized the need for African countries to prioritize economic security and Pan-African market integration to boost the continent's defence capabilities.
Key points
- President Museveni urges African countries to strengthen their economies and prioritize regional integration for national security.
- A common African market would provide wealth creators with a larger and more reliable market while strengthening the economic foundations of African countries.
- Regional political integration would enhance Africa's collective defence capabilities, including the possibility of a Federal Army of East Africa.
