President Museveni has said a United Africa, with a common market will give him pleasure as he leaves power.
The President was yesterday giving his views in a question and answer session moderated by Sangu Delle the Chief Executive Officer, Golden Palm Investments, Ghana, under the theme, “Next Generation Africa – Realising the Promise of Integration”. This was at the sidelines of the 4th Africa Global Business Forum.
Asked what type of Africa he would like to leave, the President said; “One with one common market, a big stimuli for production.”
“I would like to see one common market for Africa. I would also like to see bigger political unions to defend ourselves in the world of giants,” he added.
The President said Uganda and Africa are addressing bottlenecks to prosperity and development including; addressing issues like ideology (Identity vs interests), market integration, unity, patriotism and pan Africanism.
“People don’t understand that the 54 countries in Africa can’t be prosperous if they don’t integrate especially economically and politically,” he said.
Museveni has been making case for a united Africa from time to time.
During his speech after assuming the chair of the East African Community in May, President Museveni urged his colleagues to push for a united Africa, arguing that; “Integration is important for prosperity. It is not a luxury. It is not whether I like you or not.”
While on a state visit to Nigeria in September, Museveni reiterated on the need for Africa to integrate and leverage on its growing population in order to facilitate trade and security. “We must expand our markets,” he cautioned.
The 4th Africa Global Business Forum is hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah centre. The forum gathers hundreds of businessmen and private sector leaders for a two-day discussion on increasing investment on the African continent.
The conference was attended by African presidents that included Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, that of Seychelles, Mauritius and Ghana’s Vice President.