Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has called on African youth to shift their focus from political wrangles to the critical task of building strong economies across the continent. Speaking during a regional forum, Museveni emphasised that real progress lies in industrial production and expanded trade, not in endless debates over political leadership.
“The more you produce, especially industrially, the wealthier you become,” Museveni noted, underscoring the importance of linking production with consumption. “The issue of the producer and the consumer is at the centre of any economy.”
Museveni challenged young leaders and influencers to engage in conversations about intra-African trade, industrialisation, and regional market expansion. He questioned why so many youth are preoccupied with leadership contests rather than discussing strategies to build sustainable economic futures.
“Why keep talking about small things like who will be president, who will not? Why are young people not talking about markets, trade, or how to build industries?” he posed, urging the youth to focus on the continent’s broader development agenda.
In the same event, Kenya’s President William Ruto announced plans to travel to Uganda in October for the groundbreaking ceremony of East Africa’s largest steel plant—a significant step toward regional industrialisation. The plant, a joint venture between Kenyan investors and Ugandan partners, is expected to revolutionise steel manufacturing in the region.
“It’s a partnership that combines Kenyan investment with Uganda’s natural resources,” said President Ruto. “The steel produced will support our local industries and be exported globally, marking a major step in industrialisation for the region.”
The project is set to significantly boost manufacturing capacity, reduce reliance on imported steel, and create thousands of job opportunities in both countries. It symbolises a growing trend of economic collaboration within East Africa, aligning with Museveni’s call for the youth to focus on productive and transformative initiatives.
As Africa seeks to position itself competitively in the global economy, leaders are urging the younger generation to become active players in industrial growth, innovation, and regional integration, rather than spectators in political showdowns.
