President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has hosted a high-level United States delegation at State House Entebbe ahead of Tuesday’s presidential inauguration.
Mr. Nick Checker, a Senior Bureau Official from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, is leading the delegation. He is representing U.S. President Donald Trump at the official swearing-in ceremony. The meeting highlights the ongoing diplomatic engagement between Washington and Kampala under the current American administration.
During the discussion, President Museveni delivered a firm message on Africa’s economic future. He advocated for a shift away from the export of raw materials toward large-scale industrialization. The President argued that processing natural resources within the continent is the only way to ensure sustainable development. He noted that exporting raw coffee, oil, and minerals deprives the continent of its true economic potential.
“Value addition is crucial for expanding Africa’s GDP, creating jobs and increasing the purchasing power of our people,” President Museveni stated.
The President emphasized that local processing will directly benefit the African workforce. He explained that manufacturing finished goods creates diverse employment opportunities for the youth. This economic model aims to keep more wealth within Uganda and the broader African region.
“We cannot continue exporting raw materials such as coffee, oil and minerals without processing them,” the President added.
President Museveni welcomed the American officials and expressed his hopes for a productive visit. The delegation’s presence at the inauguration is seen as a gesture of continued bilateral cooperation. Several other foreign dignitaries continue to arrive in the country for the historic event at Kololo.