President Yoweri Museveni has called on members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to work towards the realization of full market integration and a political federation for the East African Community (EAC). Addressing a special EALA sitting at State House, Entebbe, on October 22, 2024, Museveni warned that without market integration, East Africa risks lagging behind, despite its rich natural resources, much like Latin America.
“Latin America is resource-rich but remains underdeveloped due to fragmented markets. We must avoid this path and address the issue of market integration,” Museveni urged. He encouraged EALA to prioritize regional unity, which he sees as key to sustainable prosperity.
The President also highlighted the importance of strategic security, stressing that without united political and security efforts, the region would struggle to protect its interests. “Even with market integration, without strategic security, we will not defend ourselves effectively,” he added.
Museveni emphasized the need for socio-economic transformation and urged legislators to promote modern methods of productivity. “You must become modern people; you cannot continue doing things in old ways,” he said, calling for patriotism, Pan-Africanism, and socio-economic modernization as key principles for prosperity.
EALA Speaker Joseph Ntakirutimana praised Museveni's leadership, noting that under his guidance, the EAC has expanded from three to eight member states, furthering the region's political and economic ambitions.
The special sitting will run from October 21 to November 12, 2024, at both State House and Uganda’s Parliament.
