MWE Correspondent
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has delivered a stark warning about Africa’s place in the rapidly changing global order, questioning why major powers such as the United States are pushing deeper into space exploration while many African nations remain trapped by underdevelopment, fragmented policies, and missed opportunities.
Speaking during the April 2026 National Resistance Movement (NRM) Retreat in Kyankwanzi, Museveni said the modern world is no longer defined only by dominance on land, sea, and air, but increasingly by technological superiority and strategic influence in space.
He noted that global powers are now investing heavily in lunar missions, satellite technologies, advanced defense systems, and artificial intelligence, while much of Africa continues to struggle with weak industrial capacity, limited technological infrastructure, and dependence on foreign systems.
“The world powers are now operating on land, in the air, at sea, and even in space,” Museveni said, warning that Africa risks being left behind if it fails to act decisively.
The Ugandan leader attributed part of the continent’s slow progress to what he described as procrastination and misplaced priorities, saying Africans often “dance” instead of fully exploiting opportunities for economic and technological transformation.
Museveni’s remarks come at a time when the global space economy is expanding rapidly. According to international industry estimates, the space sector is projected to surpass $1 trillion within the next decade, driven by satellite communications, space exploration, defense technologies, and commercial innovation. Countries including the United States, China, India, and Russia are accelerating investments in lunar exploration and strategic space programs.
Africa, by contrast, still accounts for a small share of global technological and industrial output despite having one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing populations.
Also Read; Kenya Protests Turn Deadly Amid Fuel Crisis
While several African countries—including South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Kenya—have made progress in satellite development and space research, analysts say the continent remains heavily reliant on foreign infrastructure for communications, navigation, and advanced security systems.
Museveni argued that regional fragmentation has weakened Africa’s ability to compete globally, renewing his long-standing call for deeper East African integration. He said an East African federation could provide the scale needed to develop stronger military power, maritime protection, industrial capacity, and technological advancement.
Supporters of regional integration argue that a united East African bloc could create one of the continent’s largest economic zones, combining strategic resources, markets, and human capital. Critics, however, point to political differences, sovereignty concerns, and uneven economic development among member states as major obstacles to federation efforts.
Historically, Museveni has consistently advocated Pan-African unity, often linking economic independence to security and technological progress. His latest comments reflect broader debates across Africa about innovation, industrialisation, and whether the continent can compete in a world increasingly shaped by technology-driven power.
