At 82, Museveni Dreams of 100—and an Integrated Africa

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said he hopes to live to 100 years, saying God’s blessings and the goodwill of millions of Ugandans who celebrated his 82nd birthday will give him and Maama Janet another 18 years to reach their targeted ages.

In a message issued yesterday after his 82nd birthday celebrations, Museveni thanked the eight million well-wishers who congratulated him, saying their prayers and God’s blessings would “push” him and Maama to live for another 18 years.

“Those well-wishes and God’s blessings will push me and Maama for another just 18 years to reach 100 years of age and for Maama to reach 96 years,” Museveni said.

The President used his birthday message to reflect on what he described as three historical missions that Africa must accomplish to avert future calamity.

He identified the missions as achieving prosperity through integration of the African common market, securing the continent against strategic threats through political integration where possible, and strengthening the spirit of brotherhood, or undugu, among Africa’s major linguistic groups.

Museveni said the African common market would enable wealth creators to expand, while political integration would strengthen the continent’s strategic security.

He cited the East African Federation as an example of political integration that could contribute to the continent’s security and prosperity.

The President also called for greater unity among Africa’s estimated 1.5 billion people, highlighting four major linguistic groupings—the Niger-Congo, Nilo-Saharan, Afro-Asiatic and Khoisan—as part of what he described as the continent’s undugu.

“It is the fulfilment of these historical missions, that will guarantee our prosperity and strategic security,” he said.

Museveni also used the statement to clarify remarks he had recently made while presiding over the groundbreaking of the 320-million-litre oil storage centre at Buyala, saying some Kenyan media had added “pilipili” to his comments.

He revisited Uganda’s historical experience under Idi Amin, saying that during the struggle against Amin, his government was initially critical of the involvement of people he described as uneducated in running the affairs of the country.

However, Museveni said that after Amin’s defeat and the return of civil servants to positions of responsibility, the government later discovered that some senior officials were also contributing to problems in the country.

He cited Uganda’s procurement of petroleum products as an example, saying he only learnt around 2019 that the country had been purchasing petroleum products through middlemen in Kenya.

According to Museveni, Kenyan Senator Jirongo informed him about the arrangement, prompting him to task the then Energy Minister Irene Muloni to address the matter.

He said the situation remained unresolved until 2023, when Uganda entered into an arrangement with Vitol, a global bulk supplier with refineries in different parts of the world.

Museveni said the initial agreement signed on August 18, 2023, significantly reduced Uganda’s purchase prices for petroleum products.

He cited diesel prices falling from US$118 to US$83 per metric tonne, petrol from US$97.5 to US$61.5 and aviation fuel from US$114.25 to US$79.25.

The President also thanked Kenyan President William Ruto for supporting the new arrangement, saying Kenya allowed Uganda to pump its petroleum products through the Kenyan oil pipeline and acquire a 20.15% shareholding in the pipeline.

“We are very happy with the Kenya Government of President Ruto on this matter,” Museveni said.

He signed off the message by thanking Ugandans for the birthday wishes and reiterating his focus on Africa’s long-term prosperity and strategic security.

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