Kampala, January 19, 2024 – President Museveni of Uganda has urged member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to leverage its strength as a platform for advocating significant changes at the United Nations Organisation (UN). Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 19th summit of the heads of state and government of NAM, President Museveni emphasized the need to use the collective influence of NAM’s 4.46 billion people worldwide to drive transformative processes for a better common future.
During his address at the Speke Convention Centre in Munyonyo, President Museveni highlighted the historical significance of NAM, portraying it as a necessary antidote to the irrational polarization between capitalist western countries and communist eastern countries in the past. He recalled the emergence of NAM in response to the prevailing global dynamics of the 1960s, which sought to provide a balanced alternative for countries not aligning with either major bloc.
President Museveni, reflecting on Africa’s colonial history, condemned the oppressive practices of wars of conquest, slavery, imperialism, and neo-colonialism. He emphasized the fallacy of oppressors thinking they can indefinitely use their temporary advantage in science and technology to oppress others, asserting that the oppressed will learn, catch up, and eventually defeat the oppressor.
The president insisted on the importance of free associations of nations, encouraging interactions for mutual advantage among people of common or shared origin. He expressed disdain for the philosophical shallowness of some global actors and emphasized the need to respect the freedom of everybody in a democratic setting.
President Museveni praised the Non-Aligned Movement for its correct stance against the polarization between capitalists and communists in the mid-20th century. He outlined the focus on addressing common human problems such as prosperity through trade, advancing science and technology, environmental issues, and combating crime and terrorism.
Highlighting the importance of maintaining unity, solidarity, and collective coordination among NAM member states, President Museveni called for a prioritized approach that favors developing countries, aligning with the Bandung principles. As the summit unfolds, member states are expected to deliberate on these principles and advocate for transformative changes on the global stage.
