Kyankwanzi, April 8, 2026 — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has challenged African leaders to prioritise science, technology, and regional integration, warning that the continent risks falling behind as global powers advance into space exploration.
Speaking at the opening of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) parliamentary retreat at the National Leadership Institute, Museveni said Africa must revive its original post-independence mission of unity and self-reliance.
“One of the historical missions was to ensure that Africa is never again threatened or marginalised. However, when we got independence, people started relaxing,” he said. “We are supposed to have Uhuru na Umoja and create the East African Federation.”
The President stressed that political federation is essential for strengthening Africa’s strategic capacity.
“That is why we are for the political federation of East Africa. We don’t want to fight other people, but we want to be able to go into the ocean and find out what is happening in there, and for security purposes,” he said.
Museveni then turned to space exploration, using it as a symbol of the widening technological gap between Africa and more advanced nations.
“For now, we are not there, not even the moon,” he said. “We also want to be able to go to the moon and see what is happening there. The moon is a common property for man, but we are just here in Kyankwanzi dancing paka chini when people are on the moon looking down at us like ants.”
He warned that failure to invest in science and innovation could leave Africa vulnerable.
“As we are speaking now, one of the satellites of the USA is going around the moon. For us, we are here in Kyankwanzi eating macaroni. This is very dangerous,” Museveni added.
The retreat, attended by top party leaders and Members of Parliament-elect, also saw the presence of Vice President Jessica Alupo, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.
Museveni’s remarks come as global attention turns once again to lunar exploration, driven by missions such as Artemis II by NASA.
The Artemis II crew recently completed a historic flyby of the Moon, capturing rare images of the lunar far side and deep space, including the Milky Way galaxy.
The spacecraft has since begun its return journey to Earth, with splashdown expected on April 10, marking a major milestone in renewed human space exploration.
The mission underscores the growing global investment in space science—an area Museveni says Africa must not ignore if it is to secure its future.
