President Museveni Highlights Uganda’s Progress and Future Plans in Annual Address
On June 5, 2025, President Yoweri Museveni delivered the State of the Nation Address at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, emphasizing Uganda’s economic achievements, regional trade integration, and the launch of the Fourth National Development Plan (NDPIV).
Economic Milestones and Vision 2040
President Museveni reported significant economic growth, noting that Uganda’s economy expanded from $1.5 billion in 1986 to $55 billion in 2024, with a purchasing power parity (PPP) value of $180.29 billion. He highlighted Uganda’s attainment of lower-middle-income status, with a per capita income of $1,182.
“Our economy remains strong and resilient,” Museveni stated, citing Uganda’s ranking as the seventh fastest-growing economy in Africa. He attributed this growth to broad-based, inclusive, and pro-poor policies.
The President launched the Fourth National Development Plan (NDPIV), covering 2025/26 to 2029/30, aiming to transform Uganda into a modern and prosperous nation, building on the previous three NDPs and aligning with Uganda Vision 2040.
Regional Trade and Market Integration
Museveni called for the removal of trade barriers within the East African Community (EAC) to support regional prosperity. He emphasized the importance of utilizing African markets before focusing on global markets like the EU, US, China, and India. The President highlighted the success of exports within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), worth over $2.1 billion.
Wealth Creation and Inclusive Development
The President urged citizens to engage in four key wealth sectors: commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT. He cited government programs such as Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, Youth and Women funds, and Uganda Development Bank (UDB) loans as support mechanisms for different income levels. newvision.co.ug
Security and Regional Integration
Addressing security, Museveni emphasized that Uganda’s security and independence are tied to Africa’s size and unity. He advocated for regional political federations, particularly in East Africa, based on cultural and linguistic compatibility, proposing Swahili as a unifying official language. newvision.co.ug
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, Uganda plans to develop a limited space program, including satellites for communication and surveillance. The political and economic integration of East Africa remains a top goal to ensure sustainable security and prosperity. newvision.co.ug
Conclusion
President Museveni’s address outlined Uganda’s economic progress, regional trade initiatives, and future development plans under NDPIV. The emphasis on regional integration, wealth creation, and technological advancement positions Uganda on a path toward achieving Vision 2040.