President Museveni Calls Andrew Mwenda a Neo-Colonial Agent Over Industrialisation Remarks

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has launched a scathing verbal attack on veteran journalist and political commentator Andrew Mwenda, branding him a “neo-colonial agent” following Mwenda’s recent criticism of the government’s ambitious industrialization agenda.

The fierce presidential rebuke came during a public address where Museveni staunchly defended his administration’s renewed focus on manufacturing, value addition, and infrastructure development.

Mwenda, known for his controversial and often contrarian economic analyses, had recently argued that the government’s heavy investment in state-led industrialization and manufacturing was economically unviable, suggesting that Uganda lacks the structural efficiency and market size to compete globally in heavy industries.

President Museveni did not take the criticism lightly. Firing back, the President accused Mwenda and similar critics of ideological disorientation, stating that their arguments mirror a foreign agenda designed to keep Africa perpetually dependent on the West.

“People like Mwenda are just neo-colonial agents. They want us to remain producers of raw materials so that we continue donating our wealth and jobs to the outside world,” Museveni stated. “You cannot build a modern, independent economy without industrializing. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either ignorant or working for the enemy.”

Museveni reiterated his stance that the bone marrow of a functioning economy lies in lowering the cost of electricity, improving rail transport, and providing affordable credit to manufacturers.

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This clash over economic policy comes just days after the President hosted former South African President Jacob Zuma to discuss high-level bilateral investments in energy, rail, and mineral value addition.

The President made it explicitly clear that his government will not be deterred by armchair experts and will continue to fast-track its import substitution and export promotion strategies. Mwenda is yet to issue a direct response to the President’s harsh remarks.