Museveni calls for strategic infrastructure investment to fuel Africa's industrial growth

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President Yoweri Museveni has called for a coordinated and strategic approach to infrastructure development across Africa, emphasising that investment in transport, energy, industrial capacity, and regional markets is essential for unlocking the continent’s economic potential.

He made the proposal on Thursday, April 23, while addressing delegates at the opening of the Africa We Build Summit 2026 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

The two-day summit was hosted by Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) in collaboration with the government of Kenya. 

President Museveni leading the discussion during the Africa We Build Summit 2026 at JW Mariot Hotel in Nairobi on Thursday, as President William Ruto (R) and Aliko Dangote of the Dangote Group look.

Participants, both physical and online, included Heads of State, policy makers and private sector leaders convening to discuss practical ways of unlocking Africa’s potential through large-scale projects.

The high-level summit focused on accelerating infrastructure development and industrialisation across the continent.

In his presentation, Museveni said that Infrastructure must not be treated as a standalone asset but as part of an integrated development framework linking roads, railways, ports, electricity, and digital systems to 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,” he said, according to a release from the Presidential Press Unit. 

The President observed that Africa’s economic growth has not yet matched its vast natural resources, population strength, and land advantage, stressing the importance of addressing structural bottlenecks that continue to slow development.

Warning that instability driven by sectarian politics and weak state institutions undermines infrastructure progress and economic transformation, Museveni called for ideological clarity, national unity, and strong security institutions as foundations for sustainable development.

President Museveni further highlighted the urgent need for Africa to shift from exporting raw materials to producing finished goods locally.

He explained that value addition in commodities such as cotton, coffee, minerals, and petroleum would significantly increase national revenues and create employment opportunities across the continent.

He also underscored the importance of investing borrowed funds in productive sectors such as electricity generation, railways, fuel 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.

The release adds that the President reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to advancing regional integration through infrastructure connectivity, industrial production, local vaccine manufacturing, steel development, and petroleum refining capacity, noting that such investments would contribute to shared prosperity across East Africa and the wider continent.

He also emphasised the importance of expanding intra-African trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area framework, describing market integration as essential for attracting investment and supporting large scale production.

Commending his counterpart, William Ruto of Kenya, for organising the Summit, Museveni also urged  African governments, development finance institutions, and private sector partners to prioritise coordinated infrastructure financing that supports industrialisation and economic independence across the continent.

Setting the tone for discussions under the theme, “Infrastructure as the Engine of Industrialisation”, Ruto, who delivered the keynote address, emphasised strengthening of political resolve on how to connect through infrastructure, roads, raw materials and intermediate goods to move naturally.

We must also acknowledge that other regions have faced such challenges but have overcome them. Africa's place in the global trade requires urgency; manufacturing has been stagnant at 10%. We need a way forward in terms of manufacturing and value addition,” he said.

President Ruto also urged leaders to move beyond "average leadership" and adopt a more strategic, ambitious, and collaborative approach to governance.

“The Kenyan government enhances equity by 25% billion dollars. I want to assure you that we will continue as leaders in this country and count on us to do more.”

He also thanked President Museveni for investing in the pipeline project, noting that: “Mzee, the same way you invested in the pipeline is the same way we are always ready to work together.”

Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote applauded President Museveni for his bold decision to ban unprocessed minerals.

“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.