NATIONAL | President Museveni has called on African nations to adopt homegrown development strategies and enhance regional integration to drive sustainable growth on the continent.
Speaking at the opening of the 11th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala, Museveni emphasized the need for African countries to reduce their dependency on external aid and take control of their development agendas.
“The solutions are with us,” Museveni stated, warning that over-reliance on foreign support could undermine long-term progress.
He referenced Uganda’s resilience after Western nations withdrew financial support over policy disagreements, pointing out that despite the World Bank halting loans and Uganda’s removal from AGOA, the country’s economy grew by 6%.
The three-day forum, under the theme “Driving job creation and economic growth through sustainable, inclusive, science and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063,” brought together leaders and experts to discuss Africa’s development priorities.
Museveni shared Uganda’s transformation journey, from a subsistence economy in 1900 to a modern, diversified economy.
He detailed Uganda’s economic evolution through various phases, including the restoration of the colonial-era enclave economy, expansion of key exports like coffee, and diversification into sectors such as dairy, fish, and ICT.
The President emphasized initiatives like Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) and the Parish Development Model (PDM), both central to reducing subsistence production, with agriculture serving as a key pillar for job creation.
He noted that utilizing just 7 million acres of Uganda’s 40 million acres of arable land could create 105 million jobs.
“Economic growth must be accompanied by transformation,” Museveni said, warning that “sustainable growth without transformation is a recipe for perpetual underdevelopment.”
He called for investment in transport infrastructure, affordable electricity, and reducing raw material exports.
Canada’s Ambassador to the UN, Robert Keith Rae, highlighted Africa’s crucial role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He urged global solidarity to address climate change, education, and economic justice, criticizing global trade barriers that hinder development.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed stressed the importance of local solutions and pointed to Africa’s growing debt burden as a key challenge.
“More than 60% of African countries spend a large portion of their revenue on debt servicing,” she said, calling for a shift in development financing and more inclusive policies.
Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), praised Uganda’s progress and President Museveni’s leadership.
He urged African nations to leverage the continent’s youthful population through skills development and vocational training.
Gatete emphasized four strategic pillars to accelerate SDG progress: curbing illicit financial flows, unlocking domestic capital, expanding financial access for women and youth, and maximizing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).