President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged African nations to take control of their own development by embracing homegrown solutions and working together through regional integration. Speaking at the 11th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Kampala, the President stressed that while outside help can be useful, true progress for Africa must come from within.

The forum, held at Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, brought together leaders and experts to discuss how Africa can create jobs and boost economic growth using science and evidence-based strategies. The meeting was organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in partnership with the African Union and the Ugandan government. President Museveni was joined by the First Lady, Janet Museveni, and Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

President Museveni made it clear that Africa should not rely too much on foreign aid. He pointed to Uganda’s recent experience as an example. Last year, Uganda passed a law on homosexuality, which led to criticism from Western nations. The United States removed Uganda from a trade deal called AGOA, and the World Bank stopped lending money to the country. Despite this, Uganda’s economy still grew by 6%.

“This shows that we can move forward even without outside support,” the President said. “What matters most is that we avoid our own mistakes and focus on regional integration. If we do this, we can go far.”

President Museveni took the audience through Uganda’s economic journey, starting from colonial times. When the British took control in 1900, Uganda’s economy was based on subsistence farming, crafts, and barter trade. By independence in 1962, the country had a small modern economy built around cash crops like cotton, coffee, and copper, as well as tobacco, tea, and tourism. However, these products were exported raw, meaning Uganda earned only a fraction of their true value.

Things got worse under Idi Amin, whose rule from 1971 left the economy in ruins. When the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government came to power in 1986, it had to rebuild everything. The government first revived the old cash crops, then expanded them. Coffee exports, for example, grew from 3 million bags in 1986 to 9 million today.

But the biggest challenge was bringing more Ugandans into the money economy. As recently as 2013, 68% of households were still living off subsistence farming. To change this, the government launched Operation Wealth Creation, distributing free seeds and livestock. Later, this evolved into the Parish Development Model, which helps communities form savings groups to start businesses.

President Museveni emphasized that farming must be done wisely. Those with large lands can grow crops like maize and sugarcane, while those with small plots should focus on high-value crops like coffee, fruits, or dairy farming. Even a single acre, if well used, can employ up to 15 people.

“Uganda has 40 million acres of farmland. If we use just 7 million acres efficiently, we can create 105 million jobs—more than our entire population,” he said. But farming is not the only path to prosperity. Industry, services, and information technology also play a big role. Currently, agriculture employs 3.6 million Ugandans, industry 1.4 million, services 5 million, and ICT over 46,000.

For these sectors to grow, President Museveni said Africa must fix key problems. These include expensive transport, costly electricity, lack of loans for businesses, and the export of raw materials instead of finished goods. He also stressed the need for education and good healthcare to build a strong workforce. “Growth alone is not enough,” he warned. “If we don’t transform our economies, we will remain underdeveloped forever.”

President Museveni ended his speech by calling for stronger African unity. He believes that by working together, African nations can overcome challenges and build a brighter future without depending on foreign aid. “The solutions are with us,” he repeated. “We must believe in ourselves and take action.” His message was clear: Africa’s destiny lies in its own hands. By embracing homegrown strategies and regional cooperation, the continent can achieve real, lasting progress.