President Yoweri Museveni has urged Nile Basin nations to prioritize electrification and industrialisation, arguing that closing the development gap is the only sustainable way to resolve long-standing disputes over the river’s resources.
Museveni delivered the lecture at the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi while addressing a delegation from the Egyptian Armed Forces Staff and Command College.
He told the officers that the Nile question is rooted in underdevelopment across tropical regions.
“The real challenge of the Nile is not the old colonial agreements but underdevelopment in the tropics, especially the lack of electricity, limited industrialisation and the effects of climate change,” Museveni said.
He said sustainable management of water resources depends on expanding energy access and industrial growth.
“The solution is electrification and industrialisation so that we protect the environment and sustainably manage our water resources,” he added.
The President also outlined Uganda’s historical ideological direction, emphasizing nationalism, Pan-Africanism, and socio-economic transformation.
He said these principles have guided efforts to promote unity and development across the continent.
Museveni noted that the visiting delegation toured the Source of the Nile and appreciated Uganda’s natural heritage.
He welcomed the delegation to the country and wished them a productive stay.
