President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called for coordinated infrastructure investment across Africa to accelerate industrial growth and economic transformation, speaking at the Africa We Build Summit 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The two-day summit, hosted by the Africa Finance Corporation in partnership with the Government of Kenya, brought together African Heads of State, policymakers, and private sector leaders to explore practical solutions for strengthening infrastructure development across the continent.

Museveni commended Kenyan President William Ruto and the Africa Finance Corporation for organizing the summit and emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects. He stressed that Africa’s development depends on moving critical projects from planning to execution through joint coordination among countries.

“The transformation of Africa requires moving priority infrastructure projects from conception to implementation through coordinated planning and regional cooperation.”

He further highlighted that infrastructure must directly support productive sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and small businesses. According to him, roads, railways, ports, electricity, and digital systems must function as interconnected systems that drive sustainable economic growth.

Museveni also underscored the need for African countries to prioritize industrial production and value addition as a pathway to economic independence. He described infrastructure as a foundational element of development.

“Infrastructure must strengthen what I call the bone marrow of the economy, the core systems that support industrialisation and long-term growth.”

Reaffirming Uganda’s commitment to regional integration, Museveni highlighted ongoing investments in transport connectivity, petroleum infrastructure, steel production, local vaccine manufacturing, and broader industrial development initiatives.

He also pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a key framework for expanding intra-African trade, creating larger markets, and attracting investment across the continent.

Kenyan President William Ruto, in his keynote address under the theme “Infrastructure as the Engine of Industrialisation,” echoed similar concerns about Africa’s manufacturing sector and the urgency of accelerating value addition.

“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.”

Business magnate Aliko Dangote also praised Museveni’s policy direction on value addition and expressed interest in supporting refinery development projects in East Africa.

The summit continues with discussions focused on mobilizing financing for transformative infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening Africa’s economic independence and shared prosperity.