Do not build the army with money. Use freedom fighters to build the army-Museveni

“During the war against Idi Amin, the freedom fighters were not paid but we managed to work well. Therefore, desist from building the army with money. Use freedom fighters to build the army,” Museveni said

Musyoka thanked Museveni for his advice and asked for another meeting to concretise the basis of their discussions with a view to securing a lasting peace in the region.

Several other dignitaries attended the meeting, namely Senator Gideon Moi, the High Commissioner of Kenya to Uganda, Ambassador Kennedy Mokaya, Uganda’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gen. Jeje Odongo, Hon. Betty Bigombe and the acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador. Arthur Kafeero.

Museveni addresses the delegation Pulse Live Uganda

In the last month, Museveni has had several discussions with African leaders and dignitaries on the twin subjects of peace and security.

Recently, he and five other African heads of state-appointed former Ugandan Prime Minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazi as the chairman of the African Global Security Foundation.

Mbabazi, 73, revealed that the foundation was established by its founding member states comprising Congo-Brazzaville, DR Congo, Togo, Mauritania, Senegal and Uganda.

Its headquarters are in Dakar, Senegal.

However, he noted, the foundation is not limited to its founding states.

“It is of course open to all African states that subscribe to its objectives and are willing to participate in it. The foundation will be giving security briefings to member states through the established organs to help members make sense of the changes happening in the region and in the world,” he said.

The former prime minister and 2016 presidential candidate said that his new appointment is directed at contributing to the shaping of the member states’ foreign and security policies in order to promote cooperation between the intelligence services of its member countries.

“The primary focus of the foundation will be on member states security and international affairs and how to improve safety of the member states,” Mbabazi said.

He revealed that the foundation was unveiled on February 13 in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, by the heads of state but its actual workings will take root at a slightly later stage.

Mbabazi, who is also the former National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretary-General, said he was buoyed by this opportunity serve in the crucial matter of resolving fratricidal conflicts on the African continent, especially in the Great Lakes region of Africa.

“The President (Museveni) asked me to lend a hand in the efforts by fellow Africans to resolve the conflicts, especially in our area and being a revolutionary and the Pan-Africanist at that I agreed to give a hand,” he said.

The delegation that met Museveni at State House, Entebbe, Uganda Pulse Live Uganda

“So he offered me (the job) and I accepted to be the special envoy on the Great Lakes Region, South Sudan. And I agreed because I believe in peace, I believe senseless war is something all of us must bring to an end and I am happy to play my part in that effort,” he added.

Mbabazi’s appointment followed a meeting he and Museveni had in Senegal about a month ago at the invitation of President Macky Sall, who is the current chairperson of the African Union.