“Do You Eat Computers?” Museveni asks as he lectures World Bank at African Leaders’ Summit

Nairobi, (KE):- President Yoweri Museveni Monday delivered a moving speech at the International Development Association (IDA) Africa Heads of State Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, emphasizing the urgent need for the World Bank to shift from a profiteering agenda to prosperity in Africa.

The summit was called to among other things, outline key financing priorities for Africa and advocate for a substantial replenishment of resources for the International Development Association (IDA), known as IDA21.

In his address early on Monday, President Museveni expressed his frustration with the conduct of the World Bank’s financial relations with African nations especially on credit.

“I am tired of all these stories…these neo-colonial civil servants who have been holding us back, i have put my foot down, I don’t want to hear those stories… and Uganda is developing and it will develop because i don’t entertain that nonsense anymore,” President Museveni said.

“Borrowing for what? capacity building. Imagine! Seminars, they call you in a hotel, you eat chapati, and mandazi, they say that is capacity building…it should be on the ground not just seminars. So if you are serious, I need to hear about the low-cost funding for manufacturing, not for stories…for manufacturing.”

Museveni recognised the World Bank president for advocating prosperity over profiteering, marking a significant departure from traditional economic paradigms.

“This has been the problem, the problem has been profiteering,” President Museveni stated. “Now the World Bank people and other groups have been talking of sustainable development.”

The Ugandan President underscored the necessity of socio-economic transformation for the African continent, emphasizing that mere quantitative growth is insufficient. “Africa needs socio-economic transformation,” he asserted.

Mr Museveni further drew attention to the enduring challenge of accessing financial resources tailored to support genuine development initiatives. “So I had now to use my own money because I couldn’t get, I couldn’t borrow money from anybody,” he said.

Addressing the allocation of loans, President Museveni criticized the prevailing focus on capacity building and information and communication technology (ICT) without meaningful integration into key sectors such as agriculture and industry. “ICT is a communication system mainly,” he remarked. “What are you going to communicate on that communication?”

With a blend of humour and conviction, President Museveni questioned the obsession with digitization, humorously asking, “Now digital digital digital…..are you eating computers, have I seen anybody eating computers?” He urged a shift towards practical applications of technology in sectors vital for economic growth.

The two-day summit recognises the pressing need to address Africa’s development challenges, ranging from infrastructure deficits to healthcare and education disparities.