By President Yoweri Museveni has once again defended his controversial call for Uganda and other landlocked African countries to secure strategic access to the Indian Ocean, warning that Africa risks remaining militarily vulnerable in a world dominated by global powers with advanced space and naval capabilities.
Speaking during a radio talk show on Thursday, Museveni revisited the debate sparked by his earlier comments, insisting that Africa must think beyond national borders if it is to guarantee long-term security.
He argued that although East African countries talk of integration, each still maintains separate defence systems a weakness he believes leaves the region exposed.
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“The issue of strategic security is where I talked about the Indian Ocean,” Museveni said. “Even if we are together in this African community, we don’t plan defence together. You find Kenya with their own defence, Uganda has, Tanzania has.”
The President went on to compare global powers to “beings on the moon,” saying their superiority in air power, naval strength and space technology gives them overwhelming dominance.
“Some people are on the moon now the Americans, the Chinese, the Russians, even the Indians,” he said. “The ones here are ourselves. Those people on the moon look at us like insects… like those virudu that eat sugar. You can spray them anytime.”
Museveni said this imbalance is why Uganda and its neighbours must consider deeper political federation, joint defence planning and shared access to strategic locations including the Indian Ocean.
He argued that countries along the coastline may lack the financial or military capacity to utilise the ocean fully, yet the entire region depends on it for trade and security.
“That’s why I talked about the Indian Ocean,” he said. “And why we must be superior in space, in satellites, in the Air Force, in the Navy.”
His repeated comments come days after similar remarks triggered debate in Uganda and Kenya, with some Kenyan commentators accusing him of issuing veiled threats over sea access. Museveni has insisted his point is about long-term continental security, not territorial claims.
The President maintained that only a stronger, politically united East Africa can build the military and economic capability necessary to defend its interests in a rapidly changing global order.
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