President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has clarified his recent remarks on the Indian Ocean, emphasizing that his comments were rooted in questions of strategic security, economic access, and long-term survival for landlocked African nations.
Speaking on Thursday during a meeting with journalists from the Busoga Sub-region at State Lodge Mayuge, President Museveni said his earlier statement—widely discussed online—was misunderstood by some who took it out of context.
“The issue of strategic security is where I talked about the Indian Ocean,” Museveni said.
“Some countries in the world are superior in air force, navy, and satellite, but the East African countries near the shores may not have that capacity. That is where political federation comes in.”
The President explained that Uganda and other landlocked countries depend on their neighbours for access to seaports, and thus their long-term security and economic competitiveness are directly tied to cooperative regional arrangements.
He reiterated his long-standing argument that a politically unified East African Federation would create a stronger, more resilient region capable of defending African interests.
“The formation of the East African Federation would create a very strong military force and a center of gravity for the Black race,” he said.
“Who can rescue Africa now? The other time Libya was attacked by foreigners and we were just here looking.”
Museveni warned that Africa’s fragmentation weakens its ability to respond to global challenges, making integration not just desirable but necessary.
Meeting With Kenya’s Musalia Mudavadi
President Museveni’s latest remarks come just a day after he held high-level talks with Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, who visited him at State Lodge Mayuge on Wednesday night.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and regional cooperation—issues that closely tie into Museveni’s advocacy for better access to the Indian Ocean and stronger integration within the East African Community.
Mudavadi’s visit followed days of online debate triggered by Museveni’s earlier statement, taken out of context and appeared that he claimed the Indian Ocean.
Government officials clarified that the President was speaking philosophically about Africa’s shared strategic interests and the need for continental solidarity, especially for landlocked countries.
