Africa: Museveni Asks EU to Help Africa Process Raw Materials and Create Jobs

What the report says

President Yoweri Museveni has called on European countries to support Africa in processing more of its raw materials into finished goods, arguing that value addition can create jobs, lift export earnings and deepen trade between Africa and Europe. The remarks were reported by Nile Post and distributed by AllAfrica, based on a meeting on Wednesday at State House Entebbe in Uganda, where Museveni hosted European Union ambassadors led by EU envoy Jan Sadek for a partnership dialogue.

According to the report, Museveni said African economies should rely less on exporting unprocessed commodities and more on industries that transform local resources into higher-value products. He framed the approach as beneficial for both sides, saying stronger African earnings would expand demand for European goods and make the relationship more mutually rewarding.

The discussion also covered support for Uganda’s Parish Development Model, irrigation, wetland protection and access to affordable electricity for manufacturing. Museveni said reliable power is especially important if Uganda is to expand industrial production and process more of its own materials. He also stressed that cooperation with Europe should respect African sovereignty and be based on mutual benefit.

The meeting included several Ugandan ministers and senior officials, including Kahinda Otafiire, Adonia Ayebare, Frank Tumwebaze and Norbert Mao. The broader context is that many African governments have long promoted industrialization and value addition as a way to reduce dependence on raw commodity exports.