President Museveni Calls for Coordinated Infrastructure Investment to Accelerate Africa’s Industrial Transformation
NAIROBI, KENYA — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged African leaders to pursue strategic infrastructure investments as a pathway to unlocking the continent’s industrial and economic potential, speaking today at the opening of the Africa We Build Summit 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The two-day summit, hosted by the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) in collaboration with the Government of Kenya, has brought together Heads of State, policymakers, and private sector executives to explore practical solutions for accelerating infrastructure development across the continent.
President Museveni commended his Kenyan counterpart, President William Ruto, and the AFC for convening the summit, emphasizing that Africa’s transformation depends on moving priority infrastructure projects from conception to implementation through coordinated planning and regional cooperation.
“The transformation of Africa requires moving priority infrastructure projects from conception to implementation through coordinated planning and regional cooperation,” President Museveni said.
He stressed that infrastructure must support productive sectors including agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and small businesses, noting that roads, railways, ports, electricity systems, and digital networks should work together to drive sustainable economic growth.
President Museveni also called on African countries to prioritise value addition and industrial production, stating: “Infrastructure must strengthen what I call the bone marrow of the economy — the core systems that support industrialisation and long-term growth.”
The President reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to regional integration through investments in transport connectivity, petroleum infrastructure, steel production, local vaccine manufacturing, and industrial development. He further underscored the importance of expanding intra-African trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework to create larger markets and attract investment.
Delivering the keynote address under the theme “Infrastructure as the Engine of Industrialisation,” President Ruto highlighted the urgency of increasing manufacturing and value addition across the continent.
“Africa’s place in global trade requires urgency. Manufacturing has been stagnant at 10 percent. We need a way forward in manufacturing and value addition,” President Ruto said.
Business leader Aliko Dangote also commended President Museveni’s policy direction on value addition and expressed interest in supporting refinery development in East Africa.
The summit continues with discussions focused on financing transformative infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening Africa’s economic independence and shared prosperity.
— #OpenGovUg
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