President Museveni on Thursday joined regional and international leaders at the opening of the Africa We Build Summit 2026 held at the JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi, where discussions centred on accelerating infrastructure development and industrialisation across the continent.
The two-day summit, hosted by the Africa Finance Corporation in collaboration with the Government of Kenya, has drawn Heads of State, policymakers, and private sector leaders to explore practical strategies for unlocking Africa’s economic potential through large-scale projects.
Museveni commended William Ruto for convening the summit, describing it as timely in addressing the continent’s development challenges.
“I thank H.E. President William Ruto and Africa Finance Corporation for organising the Africa We Build Summit,” he said.
Museveni called for a coordinated and strategic approach to infrastructure development, stressing that investment in transport, energy, industrial capacity, and regional markets is critical to unlocking Africa’s growth.
He emphasised that infrastructure should not be treated as a standalone asset but integrated with productive sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and micro, small, and medium enterprises.
“The transformation of Africa requires moving priority infrastructure projects from conception to implementation through coordinated planning and regional cooperation,” Museveni said.
He noted that Africa’s economic performance has yet to match its vast natural resources, population, and land potential, urging governments to address structural bottlenecks that continue to slow development.
Museveni also warned that instability driven by sectarian politics and weak institutions undermines progress, calling for stronger governance, national unity, and security as foundations for sustainable growth.
The President further urged African countries to prioritise value addition by processing raw materials locally, arguing that commodities such as cotton, coffee, minerals, and petroleum could generate significantly higher revenues and employment if refined domestically.
He underscored the need to channel borrowed funds into productive investments, including electricity generation, railways, pipelines, and industrial manufacturing, rather than recurrent expenditure.
“Infrastructure must strengthen what I call the bone marrow of the economy—the core systems that support industrialisation and long-term growth,” he said.
Museveni reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to regional integration through investments in infrastructure connectivity, industrial production, vaccine manufacturing, steel development, and petroleum refining, noting that these efforts would drive shared prosperity across East Africa.
He also highlighted the importance of expanding intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework to attract investment and support large-scale production.
In his keynote address, Ruto said Africa must act with urgency to strengthen its position in global trade, noting that manufacturing on the continent has stagnated at around 10%.
“We must also acknowledge that other regions have faced such challenges and overcome them. Africa’s place in global trade requires urgency,” Ruto said.
He emphasised the need for stronger political commitment to infrastructure development, including improving connectivity in roads, raw materials, and intermediate goods.
Ruto also called for decisive leadership in positioning African economies strategically and pledged continued efforts by Kenya to drive investment and development.
He commended Museveni for his role in regional energy projects, particularly pipeline investments, noting the importance of continued collaboration among African nations.
Meanwhile, Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote praised Museveni’s policy stance on banning the export of unprocessed minerals and pledged support for refinery development in East Africa.
“I also want to commit to the two Presidents here that with their support for the refinery, we will build a similar one in East Africa like the one in Nigeria,” Dangote said.
