”Stop Sucking Our Blood, Use ICT To Promote Exports Not Imports”-Museveni To Ugandan ‘Vampires’

By Frank Kamuntu

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has cautioned Ugandans against using Information And Communications Technology (ICT) to promote importation.

President Museveni said Ugandans should use the ICT to promote buying of goods and services within Uganda or promote selling to outsiders, but not vice versa.

“According to Kariisa of NBS, I can now use my followers on social media to advertise and then I’m paid but now the question is,  whose products are you advertising? Are you advertising Uganda’s products, or are you trying to convert Ugandans into importers? This ICT of yours, what is it being used for? Is it being used to promote importation? If you are promoting importation, then you are sucking blood from us and taking it outside,” he said.

The President made the remarks today while officiating at the 2nd Annual National ICT Job Fair 2023 at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.

Running under the theme: “Navigating the Digital Horizon”, the two-day (17th-18th October 2023) event organized by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance in partnership with Huawei Technologies Uganda, serves as a platform to connect employers in the ICT sector with talented jobseekers. The event brings together a diverse range of stakeholders, including employers, jobseekers, policymakers, and industry experts, thus fostering meaningful networking and collaboration opportunities.

President Museveni explained that ICT is a huge step for the human race but Africa, like all the other scientific innovations, must use it in the right context to build an economy that is independent, integrated, and self-sustaining.

“That is what we told you from 1986 in the 10-point program,” the President said.

“If you integrate your ICT with imports then you are a liability not an asset to the country, the same with the banks, telecom companies like MTN. The talking you make, what are you talking about, are you talking about importing human hair? If that is what you are talking about, then you are a liability. What are the telephones used for? Is it to buy or sell? The banks are giving loans, loans for what? For importing or for manufacturing here? Or for internal distribution?” he added.

President Museveni further underscored the vital role of ICT, saying that it makes work faster, more efficient and more traceable and that is why he supports the idea of digitizing government processes.

He, however, noted that Ugandans and Africans at large should not over-emphasize electronic technology and forget about other basic human needs like food, shelter, clothing, health, and security among others, which are part and parcel of building economies.

“I support ICT.  I’m the one who agreed with Huawei in China with their Chairman to come and do the digital backbone, but I don’t want you to make the mistake of getting lost again because Africans are likely to get lost. Have you ever eaten a computer?” the President inquired.

Gen. Museveni further urged that Uganda’s digital effort should be used to support the independence of the country in acquiring basic human needs.

“The digital effort that we are doing, is it supporting the independence of Uganda or the dependence of Uganda in acquiring these basic human needs? These needs are the ones transforming economies. In Uganda, we are stable because we are a bit independent in the area of food, some of the areas of shelter items like cement, steel, bars and so on,” he said.

“You can imagine that until recently people were importing furniture from Dubai, but I think that one is also changing, leather was being imported, now we are making it here in Kawumu from your cows, mobility; we have been using Japanese cars for all these years. In the past, we used to tell them to come and assemble their cars from here, but they were not interested recently some of them wanted to assemble vehicles from here I said no; I no longer allow anybody to assemble vehicles here, we shall make them here ourselves.”

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