By Arthur Nuwagaba
I have come across a set of discussion questions purportedly being asked by Gen. Salim Saleh in relation to Uganda's transition. The questions, 16 in total, predominantly focus on sectarianism, corruption, religious divisions, historical political rivalries, the Catholic-Protestant divide, elite cooperation, and the proposed 2026 Consociational Democracy Agreement.
While these are legitimate questions in nation-building, I find the concentration of attention on these issues concerning. It raises a fundamental question about our national development priorities: Are we preparing Uganda for the future, or are we still preoccupied with managing the contradictions of our past?
As the world rapidly transforms through artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, the Internet of Things, advanced manufacturing, and digital economies, Uganda's national conversations must evolve. Countries are investing in research, innovation, technological infrastructure, and knowledge-based industries. They are building economies around intellectual capital, productivity, and technological competitiveness. Yet, our conversations appear to remain heavily occupied with historical religious divisions and political accommodation.
But perhaps more urgently, what is happening to our economy? Ugandans are experiencing increasing economic pressures. The shilling has come under significant pressure against the US dollar, inflation has risen, and fuel prices have increased considerably. According to October 2026 reports, inflation reached 5.8 per cent, while the shilling had depreciated by almost 15 per cent since June. Fuel prices also rose by approximately 55 per cent between April and October. Granted, international oil prices and geopolitical tensions are external factors. However, this makes the question of economic resilience even more important. What happened to our oil? Uganda was initially promised first commercial oil production by 2025. That deadline was missed, and the timeline has subsequently shifted. The latest reported projection places first commercial production in June 2027. What explains these repeated delays? What are the economic implications? What preparations have been made to ensure that oil revenues benefit Ugandans? Why are these not among the critical questions occupying our national leadership conversations?
I am not suggesting that sectarianism is irrelevant. Religious intolerance, ethnic prejudice and political exclusion can undermine national cohesion and institutional development. However, we must be careful not to allow historical grievances to permanently define our national agenda. A country cannot build its future by endlessly interrogating its past.
My concern is particularly significant given Gen. Saleh's influence in national mobilization and development conversations. This influence offers an opportunity to spark discussions that challenge institutions, inspire innovation, and reposition Uganda for the demands of the twenty-first century.
Uganda has a youthful population that needs opportunities, not endless historical explanations. Our young people need relevant technological skills, employment, access to capital, and opportunities to participate in the global digital economy. Our farmers need mechanization, irrigation, agricultural technology, and modern value chains. Our entrepreneurs need affordable financing, reliable infrastructure, favorable taxation policies, and access to markets.
Interestingly, Uganda's Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) identifies sustainable industrialization, science, technology, innovation, private-sector development and employment creation as critical drivers of transformation. These ambitions are further reinforced by the Government's Tenfold Growth Strategy, which seeks to expand Uganda's economy from approximately US$50 billion to US$500 billion by 2040. This extraordinarily ambitious national undertaking requires a fundamental shift in how we think about economic management, institutional performance, technological advancement, and wealth creation. The question, therefore, is whether our national leadership conversations adequately reflect the magnitude of this ambition.
National cohesion should enable economic transformation, not become an endless subject of political introspection. We need institutions that guarantee equal opportunities regardless of religious, ethnic, or political affiliation. More importantly, we need an economy that gives every Ugandan a meaningful stake in national prosperity. Uganda needs to graduate from managing historical contradictions to engineering future possibilities. Gen. Saleh and other national thought leaders should help redirect our intellectual energy towards building a productive, innovative, and globally competitive Uganda. Our history deserves understanding, but our future demands imagination, courage, and deliberate investment.
We cannot continue preparing tomorrow's Uganda using yesterday's conversations.
The writer is an NRM Cadre and PhD Candidate in Business Administration.