President Yoweri Museveni has issued a resounding call for Africa’s economic transformation during the 11th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD), urging African nations to abandon colonial-era economic structures and fully embrace industrialization, job creation, and deeper continental integration.
Speaking at the high-level forum held at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, Museveni challenged leaders and policymakers to adopt a bold, homegrown approach to development that prioritizes value addition, technological innovation, and strategic investments in human capital.
Drawing on Uganda’s own economic journey, Museveni reflected on the country’s transformation from a plundered enclave economy under former president Idi Amin to a more diversified and value-added economy. “We moved from the economy of the 3Ts and 3Cs—tobacco, tea, tourism, coffee, cotton, and copper—that were looted by Idi Amin, to a diversified, value-added economy. Now we are making vaccines and automobiles. The solutions are with us,” he declared, emphasizing the continent’s potential to overcome historical exploitation through determination and innovation.
The forum, which has drawn government officials, regional leaders, civil society, and development experts from across the continent, is being held under the theme “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 through inclusive green growth.” In line with this theme, President Museveni underscored the importance of inclusive economic policies that uplift all segments of society while safeguarding environmental sustainability. He pointed to agriculture as a powerful vehicle for job creation, noting that Uganda has over 40 million acres suitable for farming.
“If we use just 7 million acres, and each of us creates seven jobs, we shall have over 100 million jobs,” he said, calling for increased investment in agro-industrialization and rural enterprise development.
Museveni also reiterated his long-standing view that Africa’s development has been hindered by ten strategic bottlenecks, which he said must be urgently addressed through deliberate political will and regional cooperation. These include ideological disorientation, underdeveloped infrastructure, market fragmentation, and a failure to prioritize science and innovation.
He urged African nations to integrate their markets and harmonize their policies to unlock the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which he described as a critical engine for shared prosperity.
As Uganda positions itself as a regional hub for science-led development, Museveni’s address highlighted a broader continental ambition—to redefine Africa’s place in the global economic order through unity, self-reliance, and a renewed commitment to transformative leadership.
The forum continues to serve as a platform for sharing best practices and accelerating progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
