The President made the remarks while chairing the 19th Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), held at Speke Resort Munyonyo under the theme “Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence.”
The high-level meeting, which runs from October 13 to 16, 2025, has drawn Ministers of Foreign Affairs from NAM’s 121 member states, as well as representatives from the United Nations, the African Union, and other multilateral institutions.
The session serves as a Midterm Review Meeting, following Uganda’s successful hosting of the 19th NAM Summit in January 2024.
Museveni, who also serves as the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, hailed the vision of the Movement’s founding leaders, commending their commitment to neutrality during the Cold War as a cornerstone for global peace and cooperation.
“I salute the Non-Aligned Movement. Our elders who started it did us a great service because they achieved neutrality. At that time, there was a conflict between the socialist camp and the capitalist camp, and our elders said, ‘No, we want to be neutral. We want to judge issues on merit.’ That helped us then, and it is even more important today,” said Museveni.
He warned that the pursuit of global domination and hegemonism was outdated and counterproductive.
“Anybody who thinks they should control the world is wasting their time,” he emphasised.
Instead, the President urged the global community to focus on areas of “minimum mutually beneficial interests” such as trade, investment, and tourism — sectors that unite nations and foster collective progress.
“My advice to people in the world is that we concentrate on mutually beneficial interests: trade, investments, tourism, and mutual support in any other area,” he said.
“Where we don’t agree, let us act by good example and not coercion. If you think you are right, show it by doing things properly in your own country so that others learn from you.”
Drawing from biblical teachings, he quoted scripture: “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father who is in heaven,” urging nations to lead by example rather than by force.
Museveni reflected on historical conflicts driven by ideological rigidity from the Thirty Years’ War in Europe to the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to illustrate the futility of resisting social and political evolution.
“When capitalism emerged in France after the Revolution, Metternich of Austria-Hungary tried to stop it but failed. Where is Austria-Hungary today? It disappeared because it wanted to stop the evolution of history,” he said, stressing that every nation must be free to determine its own destiny.
Museveni further highlighted how advances in science and technology benefit all humanity. Using China’s industrial transformation as an example, he noted that the country’s progress had indirectly supported developing nations by making essential materials more affordable.
“I don’t see why anybody would worry that countries have come out of poverty and become more prosperous. If you want to do business, you need wealthy partners who can buy from you. Prosperity should be shared,” he said.
Turning to Africa’s development, Museveni reiterated his long-standing argument that global prosperity is tied to raising purchasing power across all regions.
“If Africa’s GDP per capita were about Shs 74 million (US$20,000), our total GDP would stand at roughly Shs 111 quadrillion (USD 30 trillion). And if it rose to Shs 92 million (USD 25,000) per person, the continent’s GDP would reach around Shs 166 quadrillion (USD 45 trillion). That level of prosperity would not only make Africa wealthier but also benefit our trading partners, because we would have greater purchasing power and buy more from them,” he said.
Museveni called on NAM countries to invest in industrialisation, science, and human resource development as key pillars of equitable global growth.
Museveni also expressed gratitude to member states for entrusting Uganda with the NAM chairmanship.
“We are very happy that you have come to Uganda in such big numbers. I thank you for honouring us with the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement. When I look around and see all of us together, I believe we may be the hope of the world,” he said, emphasising that NAM’s unity, grounded in equality and mutual respect, can serve as a foundation for a fairer world order.
Representatives from the United Nations and African Union commended Uganda for its leadership and reaffirmed NAM’s relevance in today’s multipolar world.
The UN Secretary-General’s representative congratulated Uganda for its stewardship, praising NAM’s contribution to dialogue, diplomacy, and South-South cooperation.
Ambassador Musa Mohamed Omar, representing Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, applauded Uganda’s leadership and NAM’s enduring vision.
“Those who benefit from the current world order are defending the status quo. But if we align our efforts with other frameworks such as the G77 plus China, we will be able to influence the construction of a new, fairer world order.”
He reaffirmed the AU’s support for nations affected by coercive unilateral measures, describing them as obstacles to peace and development,” Omar said.
Uganda’s hosting of the January 2024 NAM Summit, which attracted over 120 member states and observers, was widely regarded as a diplomatic milestone that reaffirmed NAM’s role as a bridge between the Global North and South.
This week’s Midterm Review Meeting is expected to build on those achievements, with discussions focused on peace building, technology transfer, trade facilitation, and climate resilience.
Founded in 1961 in Belgrade by visionary leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Josip Broz Tito (Yugoslavia), Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt), Sukarno (Indonesia), and Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), the Non-Aligned Movement remains committed to promoting peace, sovereignty, and cooperation among developing nations while maintaining independence from power blocs.