President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Wednesday met with visiting Japan's foreign minister Hayashi Yoshimasa with his delegation at State house, Entebbe.

Their discussion centred on how Japan can support Uganda specifically on value addition.

President Museveni addressing the Japanese delegation. (Photo by PPU)

He said this can be achieved by encouraging Japanese investors to set up in Uganda, as opposed to importing raw materials, which keeps Africa and Uganda stunted despite having natural deposits capable of catapulting their economies.

Japanese foreign minister Hayashi Yoshimasa (Photo by PPU)

(Photo by PPU)

Museveni told his high-profile guest that Africa's economy of $2.7 trillion is smaller than the GDP of Japan, Germany, and India.

He said that part of Uganda's 46 million-strong population is still outside the money economy (non-monetary GDP).

"Africa is very deceptive, because you can live without money as long as you eat, if it is merely survival."

(Photo by PPU)

The President further informed Hayashi that until 2013, only 32 per cent of Ugandans were in the money economy, but with government interventions, they have doubled the figure.

That presented another hurdle: those who are in the money economy are dealing in raw materials.

“We are, therefore, undergoing what is called perennial hemorrhage and it is responsible for Africa’s stunting due to our bankrupt planners, coupled with external parasites who manipulate, interfere politically, and work with traitors to retard Africa," said Museveni.

He, therefore, called on Japanese manufacturing companies to take interest in Uganda and add value to Ugandan products such as coffee.

President Museveni further requested the Japanese foreign minister to get companies that can make car batteries because Uganda has got lithium.

“We are already manufacturing electric cars, but we need car batteries."

President Museveni together with the Japanese delegates and representatives on behalf of government.(Photo by PPU)

The meeting was also attended by the Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, Hindemoto Fukuzawa, Ugandan ministers Gen. (rtd) Jeje Odongo (foreign affairs), Gen. Katumba Wamala (works and transport), and the Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka.