Uganda’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Col (Rtd) Fred Mwesigye, has called for greater African unity and regional cooperation to ensure the continent benefits from its mineral wealth.
Speaking at the Mineral Wealth Conference held at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, Mwesigye said Africa’s mineral resources should be processed within the continent to create industries, jobs and greater economic value for its people.
“Let us add value here, build industries here and create jobs for our youth,” Mwesigye said.
He said no single country or company could unlock the full potential of Africa’s mineral resources alone, calling for joint ventures, regional cooperation, technology transfer and shared infrastructure.
Mwesigye said minerals such as copper, cobalt, rare earths, iron ore and gold were no longer ordinary commodities but strategic assets in the global economy.
“Unless we are united as Africans, we can never be able to secure and defend our mineral wealth,” he said.
He urged East African countries to develop a common voice when negotiating with international investors and to harmonise mining and investment frameworks.
“We need one East African voice at the negotiating table,” Mwesigye said.
He also called for shared railways, pipelines, power infrastructure and refining facilities to ensure more mineral value is retained within the region.
Mwesigye cited cooperation between Uganda and Tanzania, including the East African Crude Oil Pipeline and regional transport corridors, as an example of how countries can work together to connect their economies.
“African integration is no longer an economic project. It is a matter of strategic security,” he said.
Addressing international investors attending the conference, Mwesigye said Africa remained open to partnerships but urged investors to work with the region rather than compete for individual countries.
“This is not a closed door. Rather, it is an open invitation to a different kind of partnership — one in which you partner with the region rather than compete for the country,” he said.
He encouraged international and regional delegates to participate in a mining excursion scheduled for October 1–3 to key mining sites in Uganda, saying the visit would provide participants with a first-hand view of the opportunities discussed at the conference.
