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.
Colby, who is visiting the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia this week, said discussions with Indonesian leaders had created new opportunities for a mutually respectful partnership. He stressed that the United States was not asking countries to choose sides, but instead sought to help them strengthen their ability to protect their own security and territorial integrity.
As part of the operation, FBI agents were deployed to Thailand, where they worked with partners to analyze evidence collected from the seized Shunda compound in Burma. Investigators reviewed more than 8,000 mobile phones and 1,500 computers, revealing a structured chain of command. The findings led to charges against two alleged managers, Huang Xingshan and Jiang Wen Jie, who remain in Thai custody on immigration-related offenses.