The President emphasised the need to ensure that economic growth translates into improved household incomes, citing government programmes such as Operation Wealth Creation and the Parish Development Model (PDM).
“Can you have a strong army and a strong and safe country without a strong economy? Can you have a strong defence force and a strong and safe country without cohesive politics? Finally, can you have a strong defence force and a strong and safe country without, in some cases, addressing the issue of geo-strategic location such as being landlocked?” President Museveni asked.
The President also revisited his recent remarks about Uganda’s petroleum imports, saying some Kenyan media outlets had misrepresented what he said while presiding over the laying of the foundation stone for a 320-million-litre oil storage facility at Buyala.
Site works are expected to start immediately, while detailed engineering is scheduled for completion by March 2027. The terminal is expected to be commissioned by September 2028, within 24 months of the contract’s effective date.