# Tags
#Development

President Museveni Calls for Bold Transformation at the 8th African Leadership Forum

Share this article

President Museveni emphasized that sustainable development in Africa requires deliberate economic and ideological transformation. He criticized the export of raw materials and highlighted the importance of expanding regional markets, improving infrastructure, and investing in human capital.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged African leaders to address and eliminate the persistent strategic bottlenecks hindering the continent’s progress toward true socio-economic transformation.

While officially inaugurating the 8th African Leadership Forum at Speke Resort, Munyonyo, today, President Museveni emphasized that sustainable development in Africa can only be realized through a deliberate and focused transformation—both economically and ideologically.

“This theme of sustainable development has been discussed for a long time. But the real question is—how can one remain an infant indefinitely? A child must grow. At some point, transformation is inevitable, much like the biological process where a caterpillar becomes a butterfly,” President Museveni remarked.

This year’s forum focuses on assessing Africa’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), identifying persistent obstacles, and promoting innovative, home-grown solutions to pressing challenges such as climate change, education, healthcare, and youth unemployment.

Held under the theme “Realizing Sustainable Development Goals in Africa: Progress and Way Forward,” the forum has attracted a host of distinguished current and former African leaders.

Among the notable participants are H.E. Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, former President of Sierra Leone; H.E. Dr. Moncef Marzouki, former President of Tunisia; and H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

The African Leadership Forum (ALF) was founded in 2014 as an initiative of the Office of the Former President of Tanzania, H.E. Benjamin W. Mkapa, in partnership with the UONGOZI Institute.

Its core mission is to provide a platform where current and former African leaders—including heads of state, government officials, private sector players, and civil society representatives—can engage in candid, forward-thinking discussions on the continent’s development challenges and opportunities.

In his keynote address, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni reminded attendees that Africa’s initial challenge, even before independence, was the lack of political power. However, after independence, many African nations descended into instability due to fragile states and leadership that lacked a clear, purposeful mission.

“You cannot have an army without a historic mission,” he stated. “The British army was imperial; the American army exists to defend capitalism; the Red Army stood for peasants and workers. So, what mission guides African armies? A soldier must have a purpose.”

President Museveni emphasized that one of the key reasons for the weakness of African states today is identity-based politics, which prioritizes ethnicity, religion, or gender over ideology and national interest.

“If your politics are driven by tribalism, religion, or gender, how can you build a strong state? Such divisive politics weaken institutions. What we need is a liberation movement with ideological clarity to create strong governance structures,” he said.

He also reflected on past economic misjudgments, especially the marginalization of the private sector in post-independence Africa. Using Uganda as an example, he recalled how the expulsion of Indian entrepreneurs under Idi Amin severely harmed the economy.

“Entrepreneurs play a vital role. When we expelled the Indians, we suffered significant losses. They were contributing to our economy. That decision was yet another strategic bottleneck,” Museveni remarked.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni criticized Africa’s ongoing export of raw materials, stating that the practice results in the continent effectively giving away wealth and jobs to other parts of the world.

“When you export raw coffee, you earn only $2.5 per kilogram. But once it’s roasted, ground, and packaged, its value can rise to $40. That means Africa donates over $20 per kilogram to the rest of the world,” he explained.

He also cautioned against the export of unprocessed minerals like iron ore, sharing that some Ugandan districts had planned to sell the ore to India at a mere $47 per tonne.

“I said—over my dead body. Why export raw iron ore? Let it remain underground until we are ready to process it here. Raw materials become a curse if not utilized wisely,” President Museveni asserted.

He emphasized that sustainable development must also involve expanding regional markets, citing Uganda’s milk surplus as a case in point.

“Uganda produces 5.3 billion liters of milk annually, yet domestic consumption is only 200 million liters. The rest needs external markets. We need larger regional demand,” he said.

President Museveni further highlighted the need to invest in cost-effective infrastructure, suggesting a shift beyond roads to include railway and water transport systems.

In addition, he underscored the value of human capital, stressing that a country cannot achieve transformation if its people lack education, good health, and essential skills.

Addressing poverty, he noted that a significant portion of Africa’s population remains outside the money economy.

“In the 1960s, just 10% of Ugandans were part of the money economy. Today, it’s at 68%, but many still work only to feed themselves,” he said.

He explained that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has consistently aimed to transition Ugandans from subsistence to commercial production through initiatives like Entandikwa, NAADS, and Operation Wealth Creation.

“By 2013, only 32% of Ugandans were in the money economy. With the army’s involvement through Operation Wealth Creation, that number jumped to 65%,” he noted.

President Museveni also outlined Uganda’s economic transformation journey through six key phases: minimum recovery, economic expansion, diversification, value addition, a knowledge-driven economy, and currently, science and innovation—including local vaccine production.

“When we speak of sustainable development, this is what we mean—building a transformed economy driven by innovation,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, urged African leaders to move beyond rhetoric and take bold, practical actions to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He expressed appreciation to Uganda for hosting the forum and commended President Museveni for personally attending.

“Your Excellency, we are grateful for the warm hospitality we’ve received in this beautiful and historic city of Kampala. Your presence here reflects your strong commitment to the SDGs,” H.E. Kikwete said.

He noted that the African Leadership Forum was conceived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and that since 2022, he has been at the helm of its efforts to promote strategic dialogue among African leaders.

“Over the years, the forum has become a unique space for honest conversations about Africa’s development path, global dynamics, and how we respond to emerging challenges,” he added.

H.E. Kikwete emphasized the need for the forum’s outcomes to translate into tangible, implementable solutions.

“This forum must serve as a call to action—for bold, proactive responses and renewed commitment across the continent. Our discussions should lead not just to recommendations, but to practical, impactful solutions,” he said.

He concluded by reaffirming ALF’s critical role in fostering regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and sustainable development, driven by visionary, accountable leadership.

Among the notable Ugandan leaders in attendance were Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja; former Prime Ministers Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda and Hon. Amama Mbabazi; and former Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, among others.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *