President Yoweri Museveni has challenged African leaders to break the stubborn obstacles blocking the continent’s economic transformation, warning that without bold action, sustainable development will remain a distant dream. Speaking at the 8th African Leadership Forum in Kampala, the Ugandan leader said Africa must move beyond talk and confront the deep-rooted problems that keep its people poor.

The forum, held under the theme “Realizing Sustainable Development Goals in Africa: Progress and Way Forward,” brought together former and current African leaders to assess the continent’s development challenges. Among the attendees were former presidents Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, Moncef Marzouki of Tunisia, and Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia. The meeting provided a platform for frank discussions on issues like youth unemployment, climate change, and Africa’s reliance on raw material exports.

President Museveni did not mince words as he dissected Africa’s struggles. He argued that many post-independence failures stem from weak leadership and identity-based politics. “If your politics is based on tribes, religion, or gender, how will you build a strong state?” he asked. He compared African armies to those of powerful nations, pointing out that without a clear mission, they become directionless. “The British army served the empire. The American army defends capitalism. The Red Army stood for workers and peasants. What do African armies stand for?”

He also criticized past economic mistakes, particularly the suppression of the private sector. Using Uganda as an example, he recalled how the expulsion of Indian entrepreneurs under Idi Amin crippled the economy. “Entrepreneurs are critical. When we expelled the Indians, we lost a lot. They were helping us,” he said.

A major focus of Museveni’s speech was Africa’s habit of exporting raw materials instead of adding value locally. He gave the example of coffee, where Africa earns just $2.5 per kilogram for raw beans, while foreign processors make up to $40 after roasting and packaging. “In every kilogram, Africa donates over $20 to the world,” he said.

He revealed that some Ugandan districts had planned to sell iron ore to India at $47 per tonne—a move he blocked. “I said over my dead body. Why export raw iron ore? Let it stay in the ground until we’re ready to add value here.” He warned that unless Africa industrializes, it will remain trapped in poverty, exporting jobs and wealth to richer nations.

Museveni stressed the need for larger regional markets to absorb Africa’s growing production. Uganda, for instance, produces 5.3 billion litres of milk annually but consumes only 200 million litres domestically. “What happens to the rest? We need bigger markets,” he said.

He also called for improved infrastructure, not just roads but cheaper transport like railways and waterways. Without efficient trade networks, African goods struggle to compete globally.

One of Museveni’s key concerns is the large number of Africans still living outside the money economy—working only to feed themselves. In Uganda, he said, 68% of people now participate in the money economy, up from just 10% in the 1960s. But millions still survive on subsistence farming.

His government has tried to change this through programs like Operation Wealth Creation, which helped move more Ugandans into commercial farming. “By 2013, only 32% were in the money economy. We involved the army in Operation Wealth Creation, and the figure jumped to 65%,” he said.

Museveni outlined Uganda’s economic journey in six phases: recovery after years of conflict, expansion, diversification, value addition, the knowledge economy, and now science and innovation—including vaccine production. “Whenever we talk of sustainable development, this is what we mean—building a new economy driven by transformation,” he said.

Former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete echoed Museveni’s urgency, urging leaders to turn discussions into action. “We hope this forum will serve as a call for bold solutions,” he said. “The outcomes must go beyond recommendations; they must lead to practical steps.”

Kikwete praised Museveni for hosting the forum and emphasized the need for visionary leadership. “Africa’s progress depends on leaders who are committed, accountable, and willing to work together,” he said.

The forum’s discussions highlighted a clear message: Africa has the resources and potential to prosper, but only if its leaders make tough choices. From ending raw material exports to strengthening regional trade, the solutions are known. What’s missing is the political will to implement them.

As Museveni put it, “A baby must grow. At some stage, you must undergo transformation.” For Africa, that time is now. The continent cannot afford to remain an economic infant while the world moves forward. The question is whether its leaders will rise to the challenge—or let another generation down.