“Africa Must Fund Its Own Growth,” Museveni Tells Luanda Infrastructure Summit

Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Gen. Jeje Odongo, is representing President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the 3rd Summit on Financing for Infrastructure Development in Africa, currently taking place in Luanda, Angola.

The Summit, hosted by President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, the President of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), brings together Heads of State, regional bodies, investors, and private sector leaders to assess Africa’s infrastructure progress and address the continent’s financing gaps. The meeting runs from October 28 to 31, 2025.

Co-organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) under the theme “Capital, Corridors, Trade: Investing in Infrastructure for the AfCFTA and Shared Prosperity,” the Summit aims to mobilize capital and partnerships to accelerate infrastructure financing across the continent.

In a speech delivered on his behalf by Minister Odongo, President Museveni emphasized the urgency of prioritizing infrastructure projects that enhance regional and continental integration, stimulate trade, and facilitate the movement of people and goods across Africa.

He cited Uganda’s achievements in infrastructure as examples of progress toward integration, including the country’s hydropower generation capacity of 2,034 MW, part of which is exported to neighboring countries, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), and the ongoing Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) connection between Uganda and Kenya.

“These are the kinds of cross-border projects Africa needs to maximize the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” Museveni said.

The President further urged African countries to rely more on domestic revenues to fund infrastructure, stressing that Africa’s vast natural resources, if exploited and processed locally, could generate sufficient resources to meet the continent’s infrastructure needs.

Citing Uganda’s plan to channel oil revenues into infrastructure, Museveni called for financial sovereignty, saying Africa must reduce dependence on external financing. He noted that the $180 billion annual deficit for infrastructure development, as estimated by the African Development Bank (AfDB), can be bridged through value addition to Africa’s natural resources before export.

The Summit also featured addresses by President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, Mahmoud Ali Youssef, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and several Vice Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Ministers from across the continent.

Discussions in Luanda have centered on transport, energy, ICT, and water sectors, with a focus on public-private partnerships (PPPs) as key mechanisms for bridging the financing gap.

The Summit will conclude with the adoption of The Luanda Declaration, outlining commitments and actionable steps toward accelerating infrastructure financing and integration under Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).