Nairobi, Kenya: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called for coordinated infrastructure investment across Africa, urging governments and private sector players to align projects with productive sectors to accelerate the continent’s industrial transformation.
Speaking at the opening of the Africa We Build Summit 2026 in Nairobi, Museveni emphasized that infrastructure development must move beyond planning to implementation through regional cooperation and strategic coordination.
“The transformation of Africa requires moving priority infrastructure projects from conception to implementation through coordinated planning and regional cooperation,” he said.
Museveni stressed that infrastructure should directly support key productive sectors such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and small businesses.
He noted that transport networks, energy systems, and digital infrastructure must operate as an integrated ecosystem to unlock sustainable economic growth.
“Infrastructure must strengthen what I call the bone marrow of the economy, the core systems that support industrialisation and long-term growth,” the President stated.
The President reiterated the need for African countries to prioritise value addition and industrial production, warning that reliance on raw exports continues to limit economic potential.
He highlighted Uganda’s ongoing investments in transport connectivity, petroleum infrastructure, steel production, vaccine manufacturing, and industrial development as part of a broader strategy to build a resilient economy.
Museveni also underscored the importance of expanding intra-African trade through frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that larger markets are critical in attracting investment and boosting industrial output.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who delivered the keynote address, echoed the urgency of accelerating industrialisation across the continent. “Africa’s place in global trade requires urgency. Manufacturing has been stagnant at 10 percent. We need a way forward in manufacturing and value addition,” Ruto said.
The summit, hosted by the Africa Finance Corporation in collaboration with the Government of Kenya, has brought together Heads of State, policymakers, and private sector leaders to discuss financing and implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects.
Business magnate Aliko Dangote also praised Museveni’s focus on value addition, signalling interest in supporting refinery development in East Africa.
The summit comes at a time when Africa is seeking to strengthen industrial capacity, reduce dependence on raw exports, and build resilient economies through infrastructure-led growth.
Discussions are expected to focus on financing models, regional coordination, and accelerating project delivery across the continent.
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