A lot is happening on the American front with President Donald Trump set to make six months into his second term of office. On one hand, he is busy “searching for peace”, whereby he is brokering peace wherever he can, using all means possible while on the other he is activating a systematic tariff plan that is redefining America’s commercial relations with the rest of the world.
He is also revising America’s expenditure profile. A major “casualty” of the “rationalisation” effect is the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which delivered US humanitarian aid overseas but which is now disbanded, marking an end to an era of benefaction for many African countries. Funds saved by the severance will go into furthering the “America First” foreign policy. Trump made this very clear as he met five African leaders at the White House last week.
The above developments are “too fast paced” for some to absorb, and hard hitting, indeed. But for the foresighted like our own President Yoweri Museveni, it was only a matter of time before they were instituted. President Museveni has always advised that reliance on aid is unsustainable and parasitic. He has always advocated for trade opportunities, wherein Africa produces more for sale on the world market on well negotiated terms. When it was first announced that USAID would be placed under review under the initiative of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), then headed by the world’s richest man and ally of Trump, Elon Musk, I bet some of those “addicted” to aid almost collapsed. Not so for Uganda’s President Museveni!
For all the time that he has been in power, with his #Musevenomics model which vouches for every citizen to be part of the money economy, produce for home consumption and the rest for the market, do value-addition and, generally, to identify opportunities for driving economic inclusiveness, diversification and competitiveness, the President has been preparing us for such times. Every single time he has stepped out of the country to go overseas, he is out searching for markets and partnerships for Ugandan products. At this very juncture, it has been announced that Uganda is now the leading exporter of coffee, having overtaken Ethiopia in the season gone by. Museveni is the leading “coffee ambassador” and he is still striving to ensure that the Ugandan producer fetches the highest value for his crop. Exporting quantity isn’t enough; but quality, value-added and which enriches the farmer and the value chain players even before the consignment leaves the continent. He is also on milk, bananas; minerals, name it!
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When PDM was introduced in 2022, it was a reminder that everyone has a personal and patriotic duty to become a producer, not being dependent on others. Dependency syndrome has been a big letdown to faster economic growth and expansion, locally and internationally. What a day it would be to witness Uganda funding its budget entirely from locally generated revenue; and when we would be reciprocal donors!
A country blessed with the best climate and natural resources is only one step away from becoming an economic powerhouse if its people changed their outlook to money and how it is made. The rich nations also started small, with no natural resources but today they are big because their leaders and citizens made conscious decisions to shake off self-pity. If Trump’s aid policy revision and tariffs are unsettling, they are the bitter bill that has to be swallowed for Africa to rethink its strategy for relating with the rest of the world.
Who knows? Europe and the Asian giants could follow suit and decide that aid and soft loans will no longer be available. What shall we do? Kneel down and beg, cry, curse or take our collective destiny in our hands through diligence, optimisation, calculation, rationalisation and equitable bargaining? The world wants Africa’s wealth of resources and human capital and we should exploit that need to sell and make the continent greater! All Africa’s strategic interests hinge on a strong continental economy. Every country needs “PDM”, as every million invested profitably offsets a fraction of donor aid withheld.
Therefore, these developments happening when we are launching fullscale into the general election season, with party primaries for Members of Parliament (MPs) and Local Council 5 Chairpersons due tomorrow (Thursday, July 17), what should voters look out for? Above all, they should look out for candidates with a good grasp of #Musevenomics and trends in the global markets. Candidates not dishing out salt, soap and sugar and notes of two thousand shillings but those that have shown commitment to support the President’s economic empowerment programs and to deepen his messages from the countrywide performance assessment tours and public addresses he makes.
NRM needs to tap and groom a larger critical mass of leaders who think ahead and put the interests of the common people first in terms of teaching them how to get out of poverty and to lift Uganda’s economic profile globally. It’s terrible on the opposition side where leaders have completely denied their voters information on available government funds and opportunities, with an intention to ride on their lack of knowledge to chastise and perhaps vote against NRM.
By his solid policy pronouncements, Trump is indirectly advising us on the caliber of leaders we need if we are to do business with him! May the elections be peaceful and satisfactory, and may the best candidates emerge!
Faruk Kirunda is the Special Presidential Assistant-Press
& Mobilisation/Deputy Spokesperson
Email: faruk.kirunda@statehouse.go.ug
0776980486/0783990861
