Museveni Vows to End Poverty Among Liberation War Veterans

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has vowed to step up efforts to improve the welfare of veterans who fought in Uganda’s liberation struggles, stressing that it is unacceptable for those who risked their lives for the country’s freedom to live in poverty.

“It’s not good to have the veterans in poverty. It’s not good at all,” Museveni said while addressing veterans from Luwero, Wakiso, Nakasongola, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, and Nakaseke districts.

He made the remarks on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at State House Entebbe, during the closing ceremony of the Transformational Leadership Course Intake 07/2025 for veteran cadres. His lecture blended reflections on Uganda’s liberation journey, the ideological foundation of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), and practical measures to empower ex-servicemen.

The President emphasised that the sacrifices of veterans, many of whom took part in the 1981–1986 liberation war, should not be betrayed by a life of deprivation. He announced plans to establish revolving funds at the zonal level and encouraged veterans to organize themselves into associations and SACCOs through which government support can be channelled.

“We are giving money to the Kampala ghetto boys. Why can’t we give money to the SACCOs of veterans?” he asked.

Museveni also urged veterans to integrate into the four key sectors of the modern economy, commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT, while those without land were encouraged to embrace trade, carpentry, tailoring, or other small-scale enterprises.

Reflecting on the early days of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), launched in 2013, Museveni said veterans were meant to be the first beneficiaries, but some missed out because they lacked land. He stressed the need to correct such gaps to ensure inclusivity.

The President revisited the three historical missions of the NRM, anchored in the ideological principles of patriotism, pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy. He underscored that true prosperity comes from production and trade, not dependency.

He illustrated this with personal reflections, recalling how his father, Mzee Kaguta, sold cattle to traders like Walusimbi Mpanga and Bukenya to raise his school fees. This, he said, highlighted the importance of markets beyond one’s immediate community.

Museveni highlighted Uganda’s production surpluses—5.3 billion liters of milk produced annually against 800 million consumed, 5 million tons of maize against 1 million consumed locally, and 700,000 tons of sugar against a 300,000-ton demand.

He stressed that without regional markets, Uganda’s industries would collapse.

“That’s why we say we need East Africa, we need Africa for our own prosperity. The second principle is pan-Africanism; love Africa because you need it for your own good,” he said.

On behalf of the veterans, Captain (Rtd) Leonard Settimba presented a memorandum calling for a revolving fund, affordable loans through institutions like Wazalendo SACCO, and an annual national day to honor Kadogos and bush war fighters.

They also raised concerns about land evictions, to which the President assured them that no one would be removed from their land as long as they pay busuulu (ground rent).

Brig. Gen. Justus Rukundo, Commandant of the Oliver Reginald Tambo Leadership School and Pan-African Centre of Excellence (ORTLS-PACEX), Kaweweta, thanked the President for supporting veterans’ training. He noted that 15 intakes of officers have already been trained, with ongoing projects including a 20-room guesthouse named “ANC” in honor of South Africa’s African National Congress and Oliver Tambo.

The ceremony drew high-level attendance, including Hon. Alice Kaboyo, Minister of State for the Luwero Triangle and Rwenzori Region; Maj. Gen. David Mugisha, Commander of the Special Forces Command; Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Phinehas Kitirima, NRM District Chairperson for Sembabule; Maj. Gen. James Kiwanuka, UPDF Joint Staff for Human Resource Management; Maj. Gen. Steven Mugerwa, UPDF 1st Division Commander; and Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, Director of Defence Public Information.