KAMPALA- President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today delivered a keynote address at the 11th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, detailing Uganda’s economic transformation and urging African nations to tackle development challenges through self-reliance and integration.
The forum, being held at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, on the shores of Lake Victoria drew regional leaders and delegates focused on advancing sustainable development goals.
President Museveni, recounted Uganda’s economic history, from the colonial-era where “3Ts and 3Cs” that included tobacco, tea, tourism and coffee, cotton and copper which collapsed under Idi Amin’s rule in the 1970s, took a modern knowledge-based economy.
“We’ve moved from an enclave economy to recovery, diversification, value addition and now innovation with vaccines and automobiles,” He said.
While speaking from a podium and reading from written document, the President was clearly seen from screens that projected his image across the Speke Resort Munyonyo’s grand hall as he gestured to emphasize his points.
President Yoweri Museveni noted the country has 40 million acres of arable land but use just 7 million acres, with each acre creating 7 jobs, but can generate over 100 million jobs and added that opportunities extend beyond agriculture into industries, services and ICT.
President Museveni identified 10 strategic bottlenecks holding Uganda back, including unemployment, underutilized resources and stressed that solutions lie within Africa.
He said that Africans must go from pre-industrial to industrial societies and advocated for African integration to eliminate the peasant class and foster new economic classes.
The Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063, promoting peer learning and innovative strategies for development.
President Museveni address came as Uganda showcases economic progress, with surpluses in maize production 5 millions tonnes produced, 1 million consumed and milk growth of 2.6 billion liters produced, 800 million consumed per year.
The event marked a milestone for Uganda as host, with Museveni’s speech at the Speke Resort Munyonyo inspiring hope for a self-reliant Africa.
The Dmdelegates left the forum, which featured at the backdrop with the theme, “Stimuler la création d’emplois et la croissance économique grâce à des solutions durables,” committed to advancing sustainable development across the continent.
