Nabbanja pushes value addition as Africa’s path to industrial growth

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Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has called for accelerated value addition as a cornerstone for driving Uganda’s and Africa’s long-term economic transformation, arguing that the continent must move beyond exporting raw materials to achieve sustainable development.

Nabbanja made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at the Harvard Business School Africa Business Conference in the United States over the weekend, where she highlighted Africa’s untapped potential and the need for a more assertive development agenda.

She emphasised that Africa must define its own development path, shape global narratives, and take leadership in sectors where it holds natural advantages, including agriculture, minerals, and emerging digital industries.

Uganda, she noted, reflects many of the broader opportunities and challenges facing the continent. With abundant natural resources, a youthful population, and expanding digital ecosystems, the country is positioning itself as a competitive investment destination.

However, like many African economies, Uganda continues to grapple with the long-standing challenge of exporting largely unprocessed commodities such as coffee, minerals, and agricultural produce.

“I pointed out that the cure to Africa’s under-development is value addition to raw materials for industrialisation,” Nabbanja said.

“That is why Uganda is working to lower the cost of electricity and labour, and to build efficient railway and water transport systems to attract further investment and promote industrialisation.”

Across Africa, economists and policymakers have increasingly stressed the importance of industrialisation and local processing as a pathway to job creation, higher export earnings, and reduced vulnerability to global price shocks. Countries that rely heavily on raw exports often earn significantly less compared to those that process and manufacture finished goods.

Nabbanja underscored that Uganda’s efforts to invest in infrastructure, particularly energy, transport, and logistics, are aimed at addressing structural bottlenecks that have historically limited industrial growth. These efforts align with broader continental frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to boost intra-African trade and support regional value chains.

“Africa should continue to set its terms in global engagements, and this requires unity, strategic clarity, and confidence,” she said.

Her remarks come at a time when African leaders are increasingly advocating for a shift from resource dependence to value-driven economies, positioning the continent not just as a supplier of raw materials, but as a global hub for production, innovation, and trade.

Those in attendance included Pastor Robert Kayanja, the founder of Miracle Centre Cathedral in Kampala. “She made us all proud with her fantastic speech,” Kayanja said.