Politics 4 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Museveni Counters '40 Years in Desert' Claim, Highlights Industrial Growth
President Yoweri Museveni has refuted claims that Uganda has stagnated for 40 years under the NRM, citing industrial development and economic progress as evidence against such criticisms. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/museveni-rejects-nrm-wandering-in-desert-for-40-years-label-by-monitor-columnist-cites-industrial-surpluses-5485154
President Yoweri Museveni has forcefully rejected the notion that Uganda has been “wandering in the desert for forty years” under his administration. During his State of the Nation Address, delivered at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, the President specifically addressed a commentary by Gawaya Tegulle, published in the Daily Monitor, which he characterized as “mendacious and malicious.”
Museveni stated that it is those who hearken to such “liars” who are truly lost. He argued that while some leaders may struggle to articulate the government’s successes, citizens engaged with NRM programs are experiencing tangible improvements in their livelihoods. He pointed to the Bugwere region, the columnist’s home area, and urged critics to visit successful farmers there to witness firsthand household transformations.
To illustrate Uganda’s progress, the President outlined five developmental phases since the Idi Amin era: recovery, expansion, diversification, value addition, and the burgeoning knowledge economy, which includes sectors like automobiles and vaccines. He used the example of the Mbale Industrial Park as a sign of tangible advancements, questioning what aspect of these achievements could be dismissed as mere “high sounding sloganeering.”
Museveni supported his rebuttal with macroeconomic data, noting Uganda’s official transition from a Least Developed Country to Lower Middle-Income status. He reported that the nation’s GDP has surged from USD 3.9 billion in 1986 to USD 69.3 billion. Furthermore, household poverty has seen a significant decline from 56.4% in 1992 to 16.1%, while life expectancy has risen to 68 years and infant mortality has decreased to 36 per 1,000 live births.
Concluding his remarks on development, Museveni reiterated his call for increased performance, warning that individuals hindering progress would not be tolerated as Uganda aims for a projected 10% economic growth rate in the coming fiscal year.
This article is based on reporting from the Daily Monitor.