President Museveni has renewed his call for deeper East African integration, saying a united regional bloc is essential for strengthening strategic security, building modern defence capabilities and accelerating socio-economic transformation.
The President made the remarks on Friday while officiating at the graduation of the fourth intake of the National Defence College (NDC) in Njeru, Buikwe District, where 21 senior Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) officers completed a one-year strategic leadership course.
He said East African countries should integrate to pool resources and develop advanced defence capabilities across land, air, sea and space.
Mr Museveni argued that colonial boundaries left some countries, including Uganda, without direct access to the sea, limiting their ability to independently develop certain strategic military capabilities.
"Due to colonial political demarcation, Uganda has no access to the ocean; it is only Kenya and Tanzania. We therefore do not have a navy because we have no sea. But countries like China have managed to develop strong navies, air defence systems and space capabilities," he said.
The President said regional integration would enable East African countries to collectively mobilise the resources required to establish modern defence systems.
"If East African member states integrate, we shall have the capacity to do that because we shall have resources. When we reduce the number of peasants, we must also build defence systems," Museveni said.
He stressed that economic transformation and national security are mutually reinforcing, arguing that prosperous economies are better positioned to invest in sophisticated defence infrastructure.
Shs50 billion expansion
Museveni also pledged government support to expand the National Defence College, saying about Shs50 billion would be required to acquire additional land and improve facilities.
"I was told that to expand this National Defence College we need Shs50 billion for land acquisition and other amenities. We shall sell our goats and cows to get the Shs50 billion and expand it," he said.
He said the expansion would increase the institution's training capacity and strengthen Uganda's ability to prepare senior military and civilian leaders for strategic responsibilities.
The graduating officers completed studies in national and regional security, strategic leadership, policy formulation and analysis, international relations, political economy, peace and security studies, defence resource management, planning and management.
The programme also includes international study tours to expose participants to global security practices.
National Defence College Commandant Brig Gen Alex Olupot Opolot said the fourth intake admitted 22 participants comprising three brigadier generals, 18 colonels and one civilian official from the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs.
He said one participant was discontinued for strategic reasons, leaving 21 graduates.
State Minister for Defence Grace Akifeza Ngabirano challenged the graduates to apply the knowledge acquired to protect Uganda's interests and respond to emerging security threats.
"Are you ready to defend Uganda on land, in the air, at sea and in space? I leave this question as your homework," she said.
Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen Sam Okiding, representing Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, urged the officers to justify the investment made in their training by taking on greater leadership responsibilities within the UPDF.
Brig Gen Freddie Onata, the former chief executive of Wazalendo SACCO, emerged the overall best student in the fourth intake.
Col David Okumu Munyiwa finished second overall and was recognised as the best author of a research paper on strategic security.
The National Defence College is Uganda's premier institution for strategic-level military education, preparing senior military officers and selected civilian officials for leadership roles in national, regional and international security.
