Uganda is preparing to take another step into space, with President Yoweri Museveni announcing plans to launch two new satellites aimed at strengthening national security, improving environmental monitoring, and expanding communication systems.
Speaking on Wednesday at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi, Museveni revealed that the country’s space ambitions are growing steadily, and that Uganda is ready to join other nations in using space technology for development.
“Indeed, we are going to launch two satellites,” Museveni said while addressing NRM Members of Parliament.
He explained that one satellite will operate in a lower orbit, mainly for security and environmental purposes such as tracking deforestation and monitoring activities on the ground.
The second satellite will focus on broadcasting, improving communication services across the country.
The President’s remarks came after concerns were raised by lawmakers about Uganda’s participation in space science.
In response, Museveni dismissed any doubts, stressing that Uganda has the capacity to compete globally in this field.
He pointed out that Uganda’s location along the equator gives it a natural advantage in launching satellites, making such projects more efficient compared to countries farther from the equatorial line.
Museveni also emphasized the importance of African unity in advancing space exploration.
According to him, cooperation across the continent could allow African countries to better utilize orbital space and strengthen their collective technological capacity.
“If Africa is united, we can effectively use lower orbits,” he said, adding that long-term ambitions could even extend beyond Earth.
While acknowledging that reaching the Moon may not happen immediately, he noted that such progress could eventually support efforts like detecting security threats, including terrorism, from space.
In a striking comparison, Museveni highlighted the gap between Africa and more advanced space nations.
He referenced the Artemis II mission by NASA, which recently sent astronauts on a journey around the Moon—the first mission of its kind in over 50 years.
“As we speak, one of the satellites of the USA is going around the moon, while we are here in Kyankwanzi,” Museveni remarked, warning that Africa risks being left behind if it does not invest more in space science.
Uganda’s journey into space began in 2022 with the launch of PearlAfricaSat-1, the country’s first satellite.
The project was developed by Ugandan engineers under the BIRDS-5 programme at the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan, marking a major milestone in the country’s scientific progress.
With plans for two more satellites underway, Uganda appears determined to build on that foundation, positioning itself as an emerging player in space technology while addressing key national needs such as security, environmental protection, and communication.
