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 directed veteran leaders to account for UGX 231 billion disbursed over the years under a 2009 arrangement that provided financial support to liberation war leaders, their spouses, and support cadres.
President Museveni reaffirmed the government’s stance on value addition, stressing that Uganda remains focused on ending the export of unprocessed minerals in order to create jobs, spur industrial growth, and increase domestic revenue generation.
“Jobs will not be a problem. In our refinery in Nigeria, we employ people from many nationalities, and East Africans will also benefit from this project,” Dangote noted.