Development is unequal in Commonwealth – Museveni

Development is unequal in Commonwealth – Museveni
By Larry Moonze in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Sun 29 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT

WEALTH is not common at all in the Commonwealth, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said.

President Museveni, the outgoing chairman of the Commonwealth, said there was unequal development in the Commonwealth but was quick to state that black Africa had awoken and the transformation march was unstoppable.

"When I first met Her Majesty the Queen 20 years ago, I said the CHOGM is the only meeting where we do not use interpreters," he said.

President Museveni said in other forums such as the African Union, he had to do with interpretation devices for him to follow discussions in Portuguese, French and Arabic.

"This is why we are popularising Swahili, at least in East Africa, to solve this problem," he said amid laughter from the audience. "This was an asset, English is an asset to the Commonwealth. The only drawback is unequal development in the Commonwealth. Wealth is not common at all."

President Museveni said nations desired prosperity and not just a profile of being rich in natural resources.

He said the problem of underdevelopment called for an understanding and not obstruction from the developed countries.

President Museveni said there was need to transform society in order to achieve economic and political development all over the world.

He said since 500 years ago, Europe underwent socio-economic transformation but black Africa was forced to remain in late Iron-Age society stage.

President Museveni said even that late Iron-Age technology could not be improved upon because of colonialism.

He said Africa had thus remained an economic enclave with seas of backwardness.
President Museveni said in Asia, countries had lifted themselves from those doldrums and that Africa was now following suit.

"Now black Africa is waking up," he said. "Our march is unstoppable."
President Museveni said Africa anchored her transformation on several pillars like education for all, liberalisation but with government intervention when necessary.

He said the continent now saw importance in adding value to its raw materials.
President Museveni said the issue of getting only 10 per cent of international value from Africa's exports was tantamount to modern slavery.

He said Africa was moving into regional integration as it created wider markets for own products.

President Museveni reiterated the call for a fair international trade regime and an end to protectionism.

He said the other pillar was sustaining democracy but not accepting anarchism and opportunism.

President Museveni said a corrupt free judiciary was equally essential.
"Black Africa at last has woken up," he said. "We don't need obstructions."
President Museveni said once Africa and other developing countries reach a certain level of development, it would facilitate the building of a sustainable future for the rest of mankind.

He accused the rich north of causing climate change.

"This is a new form of aggression and it must stop," said President Museveni.