Museveni urges Ugandan cultural leaders to avoid politics

President Yoweri Museveni has instructed traditional and cultural leaders in Uganda to refrain from involvement in politics, policymaking, and government administration. Speaking at a conference at State House Entebbe, Museveni emphasized that governance and legislation should remain the sole responsibility of elected officials who are accountable to voters.

The President advised cultural leaders to focus on preserving indigenous languages, traditional knowledge, and heritage. He argued that while cultural institutions play a vital role in protecting African heritage, they should not interfere in the duties of the state. Museveni compared the relationship to that of a parent and adult children, suggesting that leaders should allow elected officials to manage their own affairs.

Additionally, Museveni addressed the importance of national unity and Pan-Africanism to overcome ethnic divisions and tribal chauvinism. He criticized a colonial mentality that leads to the abandonment of local traditions in favor of foreign influences, urging the protection of indigenous expertise and economic structures.