EDITOR
While presiding over the Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations at Namugongo, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni used the occasion to deliver a powerful economic message, urging Ugandans and Africans at large to embrace broader markets and continental integration as key to lasting prosperity.
Shifting focus from the traditionally spiritual emphasis of the day, the President underlined economic ideology and strategic unity as core drivers of development. “No tribe or religion can provide a sufficient market for your surplus goods,” Museveni said. “We must build national unity and a pan-African market to guarantee prosperity for all.”
He linked the legacy of the Uganda Martyrs — young converts killed for their faith in the late 19th century — to a broader call for ideological clarity in national development. The President emphasized that while religion provides moral values, the role of governance is to drive socio-economic transformation.
Quoting scripture, Museveni referenced Mark 12:17 — “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” — to stress the need to separate religious sentiment from political and economic governance. He warned against the manipulation of religious and tribal identities for political purposes, saying such tendencies threaten national unity and stall progress.
The President reiterated the foundational pillars of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), particularly wealth creation, peace, and security, framing them as essential for Uganda’s transformation. He championed a Pan-African vision as the long-term solution to market challenges and underdevelopment in Africa.
His remarks also addressed the importance of compassion and tolerance, citing the parable of the Good Samaritan to highlight the moral obligation to transcend divisions in service of human dignity and cooperation.
President Museveni acknowledged the role of religious institutions in shaping national values and pledged continued government support for their social and moral contributions. However, his core message centered on economic unity, calling on Ugandans to align their aspirations with strategic, integrated growth.
The Martyrs Day celebrations were attended by thousands, including religious leaders, government officials, international guests, and pilgrims from across East Africa. While hymns and prayers honored the spiritual legacy of the martyrs, Museveni’s address reframed the day as a platform to recommit to national cohesion and continental collaboration for economic advancement.
