He revealed ongoing discussions with Elon Musk about introducing Starlink satellite internet to Uganda, should it prove affordable.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged young Ugandans to shift their focus from entertainment and short-term pleasures to the fundamentals of economic transformation.
Speaking at the Jazz with Jajja conversation at State Lodge, Nakasero, Museveni emphasized the importance of understanding the regional market and creating wealth through sustainable production and services.
“The problem today is dancing all the time,” Museveni said, adding that young people should prioritize studying and developing skills that can drive economic growth.
When asked about his motivation for his long political journey, Museveni cited his love for himself, Uganda, and Africa, and his desire to protect the continent’s freedom.
Museveni also addressed concerns about limited government support for digital media, explaining that Uganda had invested in undersea fibre-optic cables to reduce internet costs.
He revealed ongoing discussions with Elon Musk about introducing Starlink satellite internet to Uganda, should it prove affordable.
The President stressed that prosperity comes from producing goods and services and selling them sustainably, warning that Africa faces danger if young people fail to understand how wealth is created.
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He highlighted Uganda’s progress in diversifying its economy, including manufacturing, dairy, and fisheries, and emphasized the need for mindset change.
Economy, Skills and Structural Transformation:
Responding to questions from Christine Mawadri on Uganda’s youthful population, the creative sector and innovation, President Museveni traced the country’s economic challenges to the narrow colonial enclave economy based on raw exports.
By independence, he said, Uganda’s economy revolved around the 3Cs- Cotton, Coffee and Copper and the 3Ts- Tobacco, Tea and Tourism covering only about four percent of homesteads.
“When the NRM came to power in 1986, even that small economy had collapsed,” he said, explaining that the government had to rebuild from scratch.
He outlined progress made since then, including restoring and expanding traditional exports, diversifying into dairy, fisheries, fruits and manufacturing, adding value to raw materials, and transitioning into a knowledge economy with local production of vehicles, vaccines and computers.
However, he noted that by 2013, 68 percent of homesteads were still outside the money economy, prompting the introduction of Operation Wealth Creation and later the Parish Development Model (PDM).
“The key is guiding people into enterprises that make economic sense for their land size,” President Museveni emphasized.
On youth migration for work, raised by content creator Osman Kaweesa, popularly known as Jobless Billionaire, the President said many young people had not fully understood where jobs come from.
“Jobs and wealth will mainly come from four sectors, commercial agriculture, manufacturing/ artisanship, services and ICT,” he said, once again stressing the Four-Acre Model as a practical pathway to household income.
President Museveni also highlighted the role of Presidential skilling hubs and the ongoing education curriculum reform, saying Africa’s biggest challenge remains mindset.
“We export coffee at $2.5 per kilo, but after value addition it can earn $40,” he said, noting that while coffee is a $460 billion global business, Africa earns a small fraction because it exports raw materials.
“That is the mindset change we are struggling with,” he added.
Closing the session, Mrs. Natasha thanked the President for opening space for dialogue and assured participants that similar engagements would continue.
“There shall be more interactions like this. Thank you, Your Excellency, for allowing us to have this conversation,” she said.
