Kiwanuka Urges Africa to Process Its Own Resources to Build Wealth

What the report says

Uganda’s Defence Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka used a regional security forum in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, to urge African countries to process more of their raw materials at home rather than exporting them in unprocessed form. Speaking on October 24, 2026, while representing President Yoweri Museveni at the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa, he said the continent should keep more of the value generated by its natural resources and strengthen internal markets.

Kiwanuka made the remarks during a panel on African peace and sovereignty, where leaders and policymakers discussed how economic independence, integration and security are connected. He argued that development should translate into wealth creation for individuals and communities, not only infrastructure, and called for policies that ensure natural resources benefit African citizens. He also pointed to Uganda’s past copper industry as an example of how exporting raw materials can leave countries buying back finished goods.

According to Nile Post, the three-day forum brought together heads of state, ministers, security experts and other stakeholders to examine challenges affecting peace and stability across Africa. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in opening remarks, also stressed African control over financing, implementation and mediation efforts, linking security to economic sovereignty.

The broader discussion focused on debt pressures, dependence on external markets and the need for integrated African markets and digital infrastructure. The forum’s outcomes are expected to inform further debate on regional cooperation and greater financial and operational independence for African institutions.