President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has once again emphasized the importance of political and economic integration for Africa to attain lasting prosperity. He pointed out that the United States thrives due to its cohesive political and economic framework, contrasting it with Latin America, which struggles despite its wealth of resources due to fragmentation.
He said what accounts for the disparity between the USA and Latin America, boils down to political and economic integration versus fragmentation.
“What caused the difference between the USA and Latin America? In my view, the answer is political and economic integration vs fragmentation. If you fragment the market, you have this small market of Uganda, Kenya, that is where the problem is,” he said.
The President made these comments while opening the Ateker Cultural Festival at the Soroti City Grounds.
He was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni.
The three-day event ending November 29, 2024 is running under the theme: “ Celebrating Shared Heritage, Forging a Path Towards Peace, Prosperity and Cultural Renaissance”.
This year’s festival aims to strengthen peace, foster teamwork, and celebrate unity while also exploring economic opportunities within the Ateker community.
The annual event unites the Ateker communities, including the Nyangatom from Ethiopia, Topotha, Bari, and Torit from South Sudan, as well as the Iteso, Karamojong, Jie, Dodoth, Kumam, Langi, and Kakwa from Uganda, alongside the Masai from Tanzania and the Turkana and Masai from Kenya.
President Museveni emphasized that when political and economic integration occurs among closely related groups, it leads to strength and prosperity. Conversely, fragmentation in politics and markets results in weakness and suffering due to poverty and insecurity.
“That is why our National Resistance Movement which started as a student movement in the 1960s, distilled the four ideological principles which are Patriotism, Pan-Africanism, Socio-economic transformation and democracy,” he said.
“For Patriotism, you should love Uganda, love Kenya for your prosperity. If you think your tribe is more important than Ethiopia, you are an enemy of your tribe because you are endangering the interests of your tribe. Your tribe needs Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan if it is to be prosperous. You should love Africa because the internal market of your country is not enough so you need the market of Africa. That is why from the very beginning the second principle of the NRM was Pan-Africanism,” he added.
President Museveni emphasized the crucial role of socio-economic transformation in communities.
“The community needs to undergo metamorphosis from a non-money traditional way of life to a money economy and democracy to ensure that people hold leaders accountable and they are elected by them,” he added.
Additionally, the President emphasized to the Ateker community the three pivotal missions established by Pan-Africanists aimed at safeguarding the interests of the African populace.
He outlined the missions as fostering prosperity, enhancing strategic security, and nurturing brotherhood, or “undugu.”
He highlighted that in the pursuit of prosperity, adults should actively engage in the production of goods or services and ensure their sustainable sale.
“The second historical mission that we identified was strategic security whereby Africans have the ability to defend themselves against any threat from wherever. I’m glad that we revived the East African Treaty and it provides for the creation of the Common Market, the Customary union, the monetary union and eventually the political Federation,” he pointed out.
“I’m also glad that the African leaders finally agreed on the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA). Push for the consolidation of that effort because it addresses the aspect of the African people’s prosperity through market integration,” he added.
Museveni also urged the current generation to advocate for this insurance as a means to ensure the survival of the black race.
He emphasized that for the black race to not only survive but also flourish, it requires a strong foundation.
Furthermore, he praised the Ateker people for their commendable efforts in uniting as a cohesive group, fostering a sense of brotherhood to advance the interests of Africans.
“You are reminding yourselves that you are similar people, the colonial borders notwithstanding,” he noted.
“You the Ateker people are addressing the third historical mission of undugu here in Soroti. I encourage you to continue. The similarities and linkages among the African people make it easy for Africa to integrate in order to achieve the first two historical missions,” he added.
“Apart from the linkages and the similarities among the 1.5 billion Africans, we in East Africa and the Great Lakes have the additional advantage of Swahili, a non-tribal Bantu dialect that can be used to unite all this area,” he added.
President Museveni encouraged the Ateker community, including the Karamojong, to collaborate with their local governments in the pursuit of peace.
“Remove the guns and work for peace. Then deal with the challenge of water. Once we have peace and water, it will be easier for you to abandon nomadism,” he noted.
The Vice President of Uganda, Jessica Alupo, conveyed to the President that the festival serves as a vibrant celebration of unity, cultural heritage, and collective aspirations.
“I’m humbled by the spirit of togetherness demonstrated by your physical presence here today,” she said.
The Vice President also noted that the Ateker reunion festival is an annual event that brings together Ateker language speaking communities spanning across diverse ethnic groups from Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
“Consequently, this festival serves as a vibrant testament of the reunion of the communities after decades of over 136 years of separation. Ateker people share linguistic and cultural ties and the purpose of this festival is to celebrate and strengthen the bonds that tie us together as Africans,” Alupo explained.
“We are gathered here today to celebrate the traditions, heritage, shared customs, values and shared future. Uganda is extremely honored to host this unique festival for the very first time,” she added.
The Patron of Ateker people in Africa and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn expressed gratitude to President Museveni for his leadership and commitment in making this highly esteemed event possible.
“I’m honoured to stand before you today at this vibrant celebration of the cultural festival of the Ateker people. This festival is a testament to our shared heritage, our resilience and the enduring spirit of our ancestors,” he said.
“This festival highlights the unique beauty and diversity within our large family,” he said.
