President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has thanked what he said were about eight million people who sent him messages on his 82nd birthday, using the occasion to call for environmental protection and deeper economic and political integration in East Africa.
Museveni, who turned 82 on September 15, said his social media handler, Precious Kamwiine, informed him that about eight million congratulatory messages had been received from Ugandans, other East Africans and well-wishers beyond the region.
“I have seen the millions of messages congratulating me on my 82nd birthday,” Museveni said in a message posted on his X account.
He thanked God for his 82 years and for what he described as Uganda’s progress in agriculture, oil, mineral development and manufacturing.
The President also linked the country’s unreliable rainfall to environmental degradation, warning against the continued occupation of wetlands, forests and other protected areas.
“The present unreliable rains are a reminder that we should not take nature for granted,” he said, urging people occupying protected areas to leave.
Museveni then turned his message to Africa’s economic and political future, urging young people to support the creation of a common African market and deeper political integration in East Africa.
He said a larger market would allow African producers and service providers to expand, while political integration would strengthen the region’s ability to address security threats.
He specifically advocated for the East African Community to move towards a Political Federation of East Africa, arguing that regional integration would provide greater strategic capacity to defend the region “on land, in the air, at sea and in space.”
The President said young people should not focus only on sport, music and fashion, although he acknowledged that he had also been interested in football and cricket during his youth.
“We, however, quickly learnt that games, music, leisure, are not possible where there is no wealth or security,” he said.
Museveni said he had spent more than 60 years of his life pursuing what he described as wealth and security for Ugandans, alongside efforts to advance similar objectives elsewhere in Africa.
He offered to debate the issues with young people and others interested in the discussion on social media.
“I am ready to debate this with the youth and all those interested in the social-media,” he said.
Museveni’s birthday reflections were also published by State House, which described them as a message on Africa’s future and Uganda’s strategic interests.
The remarks came after Gen Z youth gathered at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on September 19 to mark Museveni’s birthday, with government officials highlighting wealth creation, skilling, value addition and expanded African markets.
