Uganda is More Democratic than the West – Museveni

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has challenged the Western style of democracy, saying that Uganda is more democratic than the Western world.

Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for four decades, is one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world.

He has severely been accused by Western governments of being authoritarian, suppressing dissent, and rigging elections to stay in power.

However, Museveni holds a completely different view on democracy. In an interview with the Russian TV station Russia Today (RT) in Kampala, Museveni said the East African country is more democratic than the West.

“The Western style of democracy was progress for the human race, but they spoil it by wanting everybody to follow what they do in detail. Uganda is more democratic than all those countries,” he said.

This is not the first time the Ugandan leader has been on a collision course with the West, particularly North America and Western Europe.

He has severely accused the West of wanting to impose its system on the rest of the world. He has publicly criticized the United States for interfering in Uganda’s domestic affairs with the aim to change leadership in the East African country.

In the same interview with the Russian media, Museveni lashed out at the United States for attempting to cripple Uganda’s economic growth following the passage of the anti-gay law by the Ugandan Parliament.

“After we passed a law against homosexuality, Mr. [Joe] Biden (then U.S. President) removed us from the countries that were exporting to the USA under AGOA. Then, they (the West) stopped the World Bank from giving us loans, but our economy grew by 6%. So, we are not bothered,” he said.

He said that Uganda did not suffer any repercussions because of the African market.

“We sell among ourselves and also sell to other people. So, this [Africa] Continental Free Trade Area is part of the very strong move against neo-colonialism,” he said.

In March 2023, the Ugandan Parliament passed the anti-gay law, criminalizing consensual same-sex conduct with penalties of up to life imprisonment, attempted homosexual acts with penalties of 10 years in prison, and the death penalty for those convicted of aggravated homosexuality, which includes repeated same-sex acts and intercourse with a person younger than 18, older than 75, or a person with a disability.

Following the passage of the law, the World Bank suspended any new funding of projects in Uganda.

The Bretton Woods institution also announced that it would review the ongoing projects it was funding. The World Bank decision negatively affected projects valued at over shs 6.7 trillion.

Additionally, the United States removed Uganda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

AGOA is a fundamental pillar of the United States’ economic relationship with sub-Saharan African nations. Under AGOA, eligible countries are granted the significant benefit of duty-free access for their exports to the U.S. market, fostering trade opportunities and promoting economic growth within the region.

Despite the suspension of World Bank funding and the removal of Uganda from AGOA, Museveni said that Uganda’s economy remained resilient.