President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Museveni said countries in the West cannot advise him on how to be democratic.
The president of Uganda, Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Museveni has aimed to dig at countries in the western world saying they cannot advise him on how to be democratic.
Museveni made the remarks on Wednesday during a ceremony in which he was sworn in as head of state for the sixth term at the Kololo Independence grounds.
While giving a speech after his inauguration, the president indicated that although most people think western countries are fully democratic, it is wrong because in the same countries many actions are undemocratic.
Museveni said the democracy in Uganda is non-existent in many of these ‘so-called democratic states. As a result, he stressed that no actors hold the mandate to give him lectures on how to make Uganda democratic.
“I doubt there are many comparable pro-democratic structures in the world. It is therefore quite comic and laughable to hear some actors in the world giving us lectures about democracy. You give me lectures about democracy, what are you credentials,” Museveni said in front of over 12 African heads of state and other dignitaries from all over the world.
Meanwhile, Museveni who recently acquired a new name ‘Tibuhaburwa’ was sworn in as President of Uganda for the next 5 years, with a possibility to extend his rule to 40 years.
As part of his speech, the President also urged his counterparts in the other African States to unite and end western domination. He said this has made them (Africans) remain over-dependent on support from foreigners.
“African patriots like me are neither pro-East nor pro-West. We are first and foremost pro-Africa. Apart from importing, we are developing our vaccines to be able to deal with all the COVID-19 variants,” Museveni indicated.
“We shall import once or twice then make our own. We were delayed because of our slave-minded civil servants who have no confidence in themselves. Africans can defend themselves against all aggressors if we coordinate. It is up to us to show that we matter and have the capacity.”
The president, in addition, reminded that since 1900, a big part of Africa was under western colonialism and they could hardly make internal decisions without seeking consent from the whites.
“By 1900, the whole of Africa had been colonized apart from Ethiopia. Some of the traditional leaders tried to fight to maintain their independence but they were not coordinated so they were defeated,” Museveni added.
“With the clear ideology of NRM we have diagnosed the problem of Uganda. The main mistake was to emphasize identity rather than interests such as security, infrastructure,”
