Uganda's Defence Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka has called on African countries to process their natural resources domestically instead of exporting them raw, arguing that doing so would help the continent retain wealth and improve living standards while reducing dependence on foreign markets. Speaking on October 24, 2026, while representing President Yoweri Museveni at the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, Kiwanuka said that development must create individual wealth, not just build infrastructure. He told delegates at a panel discussion on building African economic models for peace and sovereignty that greater patriotism and stronger policies are needed to ensure African resources benefit African people.
Kiwanuka used Uganda's copper industry history to illustrate the problem, noting that the country has exported raw materials while subsequently importing processed products for domestic use. "We must prioritise local value addition and stop the loss of value through raw material exports," he said, calling for African countries to strengthen their internal markets so they can absorb more of the continent's production. He argued that processing resources within Africa would generate wealth locally and reduce reliance on external markets, helping to insulate economies from external shocks.
The forum, held from October 23 to 25, brought together African heads of state, government ministers, security experts and other stakeholders to discuss peace and stability across the continent. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who opened the forum, linked security directly to economic sovereignty, highlighting how fluctuating global fuel and freight prices affect African economies and households. He stressed that African countries need greater control over the financing and implementation of continental initiatives to strengthen their influence in global affairs.
Participants examined how debt vulnerabilities, dependence on external markets and unequal participation in global value chains undermine public welfare and contribute to instability across the region. The discussions also emphasised the need for African-led mediation, respect for peace agreements, an integrated African market and digital infrastructure that can expand economic opportunities while reducing technological dependence and cyber threats. The forum's deliberations are expected to feed into discussions on strengthening regional cooperation and improving the financial and operational independence of African institutions.
For Uganda's savers, borrowers, business owners and investors, this signals official support for policies that would increase domestic processing of the country's natural resources, potentially creating more wealth and economic opportunities within the domestic economy.