President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) leaders to back the establishment of the Mwalimu Nyerere Institute, emphasizing its significance as a hub for developmental and Pan-Africanist ideals put forth by former Tanzanian leader, Julius Kambarage Nyerere, commonly known as Mwalimu Nyerere.
During a luncheon organized for NAM delegates on Saturday, January 20, 2024, President Museveni underscored his strong support for the institute, drawing parallels to a seminary for cultivating Mwalimu Nyerere’s transformative ideas.
Museveni, a follower of Nyerere since 1963, praised the late leader as a socio-economic doctor who made accurate political diagnoses, addressing issues without discrimination based on identity, such as tribe, religion, or gender.
Nyerere’s notable contributions included the fight against colonialism and attempts to form a Federation of East Africa in 1963 alongside Kenyatta of Kenya and Obote of Uganda, according to Museveni. The President lamented that had the federation materialized, the region might have been in a better state today.
President Museveni also highlighted Mwalimu Nyerere’s foresight, emphasizing the need for African unity to create a substantial market that could support the prosperity of the continent. Drawing comparisons to South America, he asserted that unity was crucial for unlocking the potential of African nations.
As a devoted student of Nyerere, Museveni likened the institute to a seminary for ideas and pledged support for its construction. The Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation estimates the cost of the institute in Tanzania to be around $150 million.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa of Tanzania expressed gratitude to President Museveni for endorsing the Nyerere Foundation’s initiative. He acknowledged Nyerere’s commitment to the Non-Aligned Movement and highlighted the enduring principles of unity, humanity, freedom, and respect.
The event, attended by the Head of the Chinese delegation Liu Guozhong, saw him commending Nyerere as a significant leader in Africa’s liberation movement. Guozhong pledged China’s support for the Nyerere Foundation in promoting peace and development in Africa.
In attendance were President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation Board Chairman Joseph Butiku, Uganda’s Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Rwanda’s Prime Minister Édouard Ngirente, and foreign ministers from South Africa and Mozambique.
