By Baboloki Semele: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has made a compelling call to African leaders to urgently address the continent’s structural impediments to socio-economic transformation. Speaking at the opening of the 8th African Leadership Forum (ALF), President Museveni emphasized that value addition, market expansion, and infrastructure development are essential pillars for Africa to attain sustainable development.
The high-level forum, held alongside the 11th African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD), brought together former and current African leaders, experts, and development partners under the theme: “Realizing Sustainable Development Goals in Africa: Progress and Way Forward.” Co-convened by former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, the ALF aims to spark action and collaboration on Africa’s developmental challenges.
Using Uganda’s experience, Museveni underlined the pitfalls of exporting raw materials. “Uganda earns only $2.5 per kilogram for raw coffee, yet processed coffee can fetch up to $40 per kilo,” he said. “Africa donates over $20 to the world for every kilogram. We must stop this.” On minerals, he criticized the proposal to export iron ore to India for $47 per tonne, insisting, “Let it stay in the ground until we’re ready to add value here.”
He also pointed out Uganda’s overproduction of milk—5.3 billion litres annually against a national consumption of only 200 million litres—highlighting the need for regional market integration. “We need bigger markets,” Museveni said, adding that improved transport infrastructure, including rail and waterways, was critical to unlocking trade and reducing costs.
Importantly, Museveni reiterated that no country can develop with an uneducated and unskilled population. He lauded initiatives like Entandikwa and Operation Wealth Creation for shifting Ugandans from subsistence to commercial production.
Former President Jakaya Kikwete commended the forum’s role in advancing regional cooperation and urged African leaders to adopt forward-thinking strategies for growth.
Adding to the momentum, Mr. Antonio Pedro, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), offered a sobering analysis of Africa’s youth unemployment crisis. With 10–12 million youth entering the workforce annually and only 3 million formal jobs created, he warned of a growing disconnect that jeopardizes peace and social cohesion. “Without jobs, hope fades. Without hope, stability weakens. And without stability, development becomes impossible,” Pedro said.
Pedro also called for inclusive policymaking that prioritizes job creation, women and youth empowerment, and investment in education, infrastructure, and clean energy. He highlighted the need to realign education systems with labor market demands and emphasized vocational training and public-private collaboration in technology and entrepreneurship.
He praised the DRC-Zambia transboundary Special Economic Zone for electric vehicle battery manufacturing as a beacon of Africa’s potential to harness its mineral wealth for regional industrialization. According to ECA’s findings, reducing trade barriers could increase intra-African trade by 45% by 2045, especially in agro-processing and industrial goods.
Pedro urged ratification of key AfCFTA protocols and investment in transport corridors to make regional integration a reality. He also encouraged African nations to embrace AI and robotics, describing emerging technologies as a chance to leapfrog traditional development models.
Importantly, he spotlighted the care economy—especially in health and education—as a job creation frontier for women, citing Rwanda and Ghana as early adopters of integrated, entrepreneurial health systems.
Addressing external regulatory challenges, Pedro advocated for African-led Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks tailored to the continent’s needs. “We need a model that works for Africa—one that supports energy access, food security, and job creation.”
Pedro reminded attendees that the time for rhetoric had passed. “We are not short of declarations; what we need now is implementation—with urgency and courage.”
The forum was graced by Uganda’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, former Prime Ministers Ruhakana Rugunda and Amama Mbabazi, as well as policy makers, youth leaders, and representatives from the private sector and civil society.
As Africa navigates complex challenges and vast opportunities, the call from Kampala is clear: Transform raw potential into real progress—through value addition, regional cooperation, and strategic investment in human and physical capital.
