Al Jazeera spoke to Museveni while he was recently in Washington, DC to attend the US-Africa Leaders summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Al Jazeera:<\/strong> How does Uganda benefit from this summit today?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yoweri Museveni<\/strong>: Well, we have four aims; one is to get more investments, two to get to consolidate trade access, three to get tourists, and then four to work with others on security issues against \u201cterrorism\u201d and crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Al Jazeera:\u00a0\u00a0You have met at least seven US presidents who have ruled and have gone through a very peaceful transition but Uganda has not had that in close to 40 years. How does that make you feel?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Museveni:<\/strong> Well, the United States was founded in 1623. Do you know that? 1623 when the Mayflower, the first ship which brought satellites here came and America did not get even elections until 1776. For us, we are having elections every five years, but there were no elections for more than 100 years here so our histories are different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Americans built United States for more than 100 years without democracy, without elections. For us, we have been able to rebuild and consolidate Uganda with democracy from the very beginning, so countries have different histories. In fact, they did not adopt the two terms until 1945. There was a leader called Roosevelt who served more than I think three terms. So, countries have got different histories. Ours is different, theirs is different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Al Jazeera: You are one of the world\u2019s longest-serving leaders and on most occasions, regimes that have overstayed in power have their rule characterised by corruption, absence of civil liberties and bad leadership. Do we hope for a transition? Are you grooming someone?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Museveni:\u00a0<\/strong>Uganda\u2019s statistics are clear. The economy of Uganda has been growing at 6.5 percent per annum for the last 36 years. I want you to get me other countries which can compare with that. Then, the population has increased from 15 million to 23 million now. Education has gone up, infrastructure [too]. So you, just look at the figures to see how longevity of contribution becomes a problem. In fact, it\u2019s a disadvantage if you do it with the support of the people. Because I\u2019m in government supported by the people every five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Al Jazeera:<\/strong>\u00a0Human rights abuses has been one of the big topics at this summit. There have been reports of abductions, killings, people wallowing in detention without a fair trial in Uganda. Are you aware of these?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Museveni:<\/strong> There were arrests, and all the people arrested were accounted for. There were some mistakes [in] mishandling people while they were being arrested but we corrected those mistakes. We showed the security forces what to do in writing, so there is nothing that can go wrong and we don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Al Jazeera:<\/strong> There are a number of families in Uganda today seeking justice and some of them accuse your government of kidnapping and torturing their kids. Some were killed during the elections and they have not gotten any justice yet. What do you have to say about that?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Museveni:<\/strong> I\u2019m not aware. There are 54 people who died during the riots of November 18-19, riots like the ones you had here in Washington here in the US. People are being tried for organising riots. Democracy doesn\u2019t mean that you organise riots. Now, those riots of the 18th and 19th where these people wanted to turn Kampala into \u2026 security forces intervened and defeated that insurrection and in the process, some 54 people died. They have analysed their cameras and everything was captured. There were some mistakes where people were hit with stray bullets different from the rioters who were shot when they were attacking other people. That report is there. You can come and read it and see for yourself. Uganda is very peaceful so some of these policemen panicked and fired aimlessly because people were throwing stones but those mistakes are being corrected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Al Jazeera: Your son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba recently called journalists \u201cterrorists\u201d and he also said he\u2019ll crush whoever is abusing him and this is on record in the local media. Recently, you came out and said you are going to stop him from making these reckless statements online. Are you an accomplice? Are you endorsing this character?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Museveni:<\/strong> Well, I\u2019m not aware of those threats. What we discussed with Muhoozi was tweeting. He can tweet on non-controversial subjects like sports and so and we discussed that. Some journalists can be \u201cterrorists\u201d for sure. Why not? Al-Qaeda has journalists who support them. So being a journalist does not make you immune from being a wrongdoer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Al Jazeera: You have been serving for all this time and your efforts are recognised by a big section of Ugandans while some oppose you. What do you want to be remembered for?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Museveni:<\/strong> First of all, for having worked with the NRM [National Resistance Movement party] and the people to save Uganda from a failed state. You\u2019ve heard of failed states? Failed states where there is no security, there is no business, the economy has collapsed? Uganda is now one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. For security, there is chaos in many parts of the world but Uganda is secure. I don\u2019t care how people remember me but I am happy about that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Al Jazeera:<\/strong> Are you running in the next election?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Museveni:<\/strong> The NRM are the ones who decide what to do, who runs and why so you wait for the party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Al Jazeera: There have been soldiers who have made partisan statements. One of these is Muhoozi. Others have come out to endorse him [as successor] or endorse you. As commander-in-chief, are you taking action because this is in violation of army rules?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Museveni:<\/strong>\u00a0These are small matters. Not every matter needs action or punishment no. We don\u2019t have to arrest people. We guide. We now have many issues, let\u2019s concentrate on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Editor :<\/strong>SOURCE-\u00a0AL JAZEERA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Al Jazeera spoke to Museveni while he was recently in Washington, DC to attend the US-Africa Leaders summit. Al Jazeera: How<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7633,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[248],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-q-a"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/muse-4.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7656,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/president-museveni-americas-under-secretary-for-political-affairs-discuss-security-challenges-in-east-africa\/","url_meta":{"origin":7782,"position":0},"title":"President Museveni , America’s Under-Secretary for political affairs,\u00a0 discuss security challenges in East Africa \u00a0","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"December 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"President Yoweri Museveni has held discussions with Victoria Nuland, the United States undersecretary for Political Affairs. The two discussed a range of continental issues with key focus being the regional security challenges in East Africa. During the meeting that took place on the side-lines of the ongoing US-Africa Leaders\u2019 Summit\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Cooperation"","block_context":{"text":"International Cooperation","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/international-cooperation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/m7-1.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/m7-1.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/m7-1.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/m7-1.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7591,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/president-museveni-departs-for-the-us-africa-leaders-forum-with-e-mobility-top-on-his-agenda\/","url_meta":{"origin":7782,"position":1},"title":"PRESIDENT MUSEVENI DEPARTS FOR THE US-AFRICA LEADERS’ FORUM WITH E-MOBILITY TOP ON HIS AGENDA","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"December 11, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The President of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has today left for the United States of America \uff08USA) to attend the US-Africa Leaders\u2019 Summit slated to open on Tuesday the 13th December 2022 in Washington DC at the invitation of President Joe Biden.\u00a0 On his way, the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Cooperation"","block_context":{"text":"International Cooperation","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/international-cooperation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/IMG-20221211-WA0284.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/IMG-20221211-WA0284.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/IMG-20221211-WA0284.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/IMG-20221211-WA0284.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11253,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/ugandas-president-museveni-assumes-chairmanship-of-nam-summit\/","url_meta":{"origin":7782,"position":2},"title":"Uganda’s President Museveni assumes chairmanship of NAM summit","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"January 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Our Reporters in Munyonyo President Yoweri Museveni has assumed the chairmanship of the 121 member Non-Aligned Movement summit and rallied 121 member states to clearly define priorities that favour developing countries and drive on the strength of numbers to influence positions at platforms like the United Nations.\u00a0 Museveni took\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Non Aligned Movement Summit in Kampala"","block_context":{"text":"Non Aligned Movement Summit in Kampala","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/non-aligned-movement-summit-in-kampala\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/nam.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/nam.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/nam.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/nam.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/nam.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9561,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/musevenis-bold-proposal-to-putin-wants-to-make-electric-vehicle-batteries-in-uganda\/","url_meta":{"origin":7782,"position":3},"title":"Museveni\u2019s Bold Proposal to Putin; wants to make electric vehicle batteries in Uganda","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"July 31, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"By Joachim Buwembo \u00a0While it was heartbreaking for progressive minds to see four African countries \u2013 including \u201cThe Land of Honourable Men\u201d (Burkina Faso) gratefully receiving a gift of food consignments at the just ended Russia-Africa summit, a ray of hope also shone in St Petersburg when Uganda\u2019s President Yoweri\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Minerals"","block_context":{"text":"Minerals","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/minerals\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/IMG-20230727-WA0899-2.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/IMG-20230727-WA0899-2.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/IMG-20230727-WA0899-2.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/IMG-20230727-WA0899-2.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/IMG-20230727-WA0899-2.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13617,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/president-museveni-invites-investors-to-uganda-and-africa-at-the-abu-dhabi-summit\/","url_meta":{"origin":7782,"position":4},"title":"President Museveni Invites Investors To Uganda And Africa At The Abu Dhabi Summit","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"January 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"President Yoweri Museveni, on a working visit in Abu Dhabi , has called on investors globally to set up investments in Uganda beacuse of their fast grpwing economies. He said that Uganda\u2019s economy which is growing at a fast rate and that of other African countries need a stimulant in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot_20250115_192932_Gmail-750x375-1.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot_20250115_192932_Gmail-750x375-1.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot_20250115_192932_Gmail-750x375-1.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot_20250115_192932_Gmail-750x375-1.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15273,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/president-museveni-opens-the-inaugural-uganda-development-finance-summit-calls-for-africa-integration-and-economic-self-reliance\/","url_meta":{"origin":7782,"position":5},"title":"President Museveni Opens The Inaugural Uganda Development Finance Summit ,Calls For Africa Integration And Economic Self Reliance","author":"MOSES SSERWANGA","date":"September 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Our Reporters in Munyonyo President Yoweri Museveni commended UDB for convening the inaugural Uganda development finance Summit and urged African leaders to intensify efforts to deepen economic and political integration, noting that the fragmentation of African markets undermined the continent\u2019s competitiveness and appeal to investors.\u00a0 \u00a0Museveni has emphasized the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/unnamed.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/unnamed.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/unnamed.jpg 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0aOV-21w","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7782"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7782\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7783,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7782\/revisions\/7783"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7633"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}