Museveni pushes for local value addition in talks with Qatari investor

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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Sunday, May 11, met with prominent Qatari investor and former deputy prime minister, Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah, at State Lodge, Nakasero, to discuss avenues for deepening investment cooperation between Uganda and Qatar.

The high-level engagement focused on expanding collaboration in key sectors such as petroleum supply infrastructure, agriculture, and mining. 

During the meeting, President Museveni emphasised Uganda’s readiness to strengthen ties with Qatari investors to drive national development and modernise essential sectors.

The President outlined proposals aimed at increasing value addition in Uganda’s agricultural exports, specifically in coffee and fruit processing, to boost competitiveness in international markets.

In a bid to tap into global clean energy trends, President Museveni also proposed joint ventures in the processing of lithium, a critical mineral in the manufacture of electric vehicle batteries. 

He invited Qatari investors to partner with Uganda in establishing battery production capacity, positioning the country as a key contributor to the global green energy transition.

“Uganda has the raw materials and with the right partnerships, we can add value locally and build an industrial base that serves both regional and international markets,” President Museveni said.

The former deputy premier welcomed the proposals and expressed strong interest in the investment opportunities presented, affirming Qatar’s commitment to exploring mutually beneficial ventures with Uganda.