Kampala — PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has called for a joint East African defence system to protect the region's interests against new forces of colonialism.
Delivering a keynote address at the first East Africa Community (EAC) Peace and Security Conference yesterday, Museveni asked Kenya and Tanzania whether they were guarding their legitimate 200-miles territory into the sea.
Referring to the situation in Somalia, he said terrorism and piracy made the issue of defence in East Africa critical.
"What do we do with Somalia? Who are the forces in Somalia and what do they want? They are there, killing people."
He explained that Uganda had deployed its troops in Somalia because of a possible spill-over of the insecurity to the rest of the region.
The highlights of the opening ceremony included the burning of 3,500 illicit arms, both AK47 guns and SMGs, in a colourful event at the shores of Lake Victoria.
In his address, Museveni said the new threats to the region were caused by foreign influence.
"Defence is not only about small groups like the Interahamwe, Kony, Pokot cattle rustlers," he noted.
"These are not the real dangers to Africa. Kony was being sent by somebody we know. Our greatest threats to Africa are from outside, those threats that led to colonisation."
He cited the Interahamwe in Rwanda and the negative forces in the DR Congo as colonial residues he vowed would be defeated.
The President also took a swipe at the media, saying if misused, it can cause conflicts.
"The media must be assisted. In our political movement, we have four aims: democracy, social, economic transformation of Africa, national unity and nationalism and pan-Africanism. If the media are against these and instead preach something else, how do we relate with them?"
He advised those in the media opposed to the NRM principles to keep quiet and talk about football.
"We cannot allow you (to preach the contrary) because we are on a historical mission. You should not obstruct this minimum programme."
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, in a speech read by his prime minister, said good governance and service delivery provided a foundation for stability and development.
Kagame, who chairs the EAC summit, cited corruption, election malpractices, human rights violations, bad governance and the proliferation of small arms as the region's big challenges.
Other problems, he said, were refugees, cattle rustling, climate change, unemployment, money laundering and food insecurity.
The Secretary General of the EAC, Jume Mwapachu, said regional integration and development hinges on peace and security.
"Recent events in Kenya after the 2007 general elections and the fracas in Kampala are fresh in our minds. They exemplify how our economies could be destablised with serious consequences on economic growth and jobs," he observed.
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This just a mere say he's the most stupid and ridiculous president in the world He's the the agent of imperialims (neo-colonialism) in Africa, how can he flatter others.It's really ridiculous, he just want to integrate other east african countries into the colonial umbilical cord , and that's all! Who doesn't know that the fight against Kony are sponsored by AFRICOM?What's special has he brought to us. Go Hell , we do not want you and we know how you are manipulated by the west
The problem with Museveni's proposal for a joint East African Forcee is three-fold and rapidly becoming four-fold:
1. The consternations in Uganda regarding freedom of speech and as well as the designated rights of groups (particularly Buganda 2. Minority rule is Ruwanda. 3. Rights of non-kikuyu in Kenya. 4. And sadly, the rise of Corruption in the once Princely country of Tanzania. I would be concerned that an East African force would be used to inappropriately entrench the aforementioned problems. If such a force could be strictly limited to dealing with problems such as piracy and international waters border enforcement, it would be a good thing. But I don't think the current leadership in East Africa (save, possibly Kikwete) could resist using such a force for their own purposes. Remember the looting of the Eastern Congo by the armies of Ruwanda and Uganda ?
More important than an available military force- stop selling and leasing your land and resources to the outside world. Develop your oil and other resources slowly, on your own, and for your own use. If you let the outside world help you develop it, the outside world will feel entitled to a share. Don't lease farmland to the outside, for food or for biofuel. Generate food surpluses using that land, store them for bad years, be more ready to give them than sell them, and, when they exceed their shelf life, make biofuels from them.
The other step to deterring recolonization is Jesus's simple: "Be ye kind to one another". Colonialism has always relied on the subjugated people's mutual hostility.
Africa urgently needs this kind of regional policing to protect her from imperialists that are hovering around.This strategy needed more than ever before with recent happenings around the world. If we don,t find ways to protect ourselves, we are doomed bearing in mind that these criminal imperialists should and can never be relied on for our collective security.After the east African region, then other regions will also follow up and with the sole aim of generally policing Africa,because our enemies are still seeking ways to steal and most importantly ferment trouble on the continent.OUR SECURITY CAN NEVER BE LEFT IN THE HANDS OF OUR ENEMIES.
My earlier post was written with little knowledge of the man himself.If what you guys are saying of Museveni is the case then Africans better watch his current moves with caution,there are too many sell outs in our midst.