President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Gabonese President H.E. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema have held high-level talks at State House Entebbe to harmonize strategies on industrialization and regional security.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, centered on economic transformation through local manufacturing and agricultural self-reliance. President Nguema congratulated his host on his recent inauguration, describing the veteran leader as a "father for Africa". The two leaders emphasized that African nations must move away from exporting raw materials to secure their economic future.
President Museveni detailed Uganda’s plans to expand its oil refinery capacity to meet growing production demands. He insisted that processing natural resources locally is the only way to create sustainable wealth and employment for the continent.
“We want to process our raw materials ourselves, and this message is now spreading all over Africa,” President Museveni stated.
In the agricultural sector, President Nguema revealed that Gabon has banned chicken imports to stimulate domestic production. He invited Ugandan farmers to invest in Gabon to help build the country's poultry industry and reduce reliance on foreign goods. President Museveni pledged Uganda’s cooperation, citing the country's success in processing coffee, milk, and honey.
“If you have farmers who can come to Gabon and help us in this business, we are ready to welcome them,” President Nguema said.
Security cooperation also featured prominently in the discussions. President Nguema thanked Uganda for training Gabonese officer cadets and expressed interest in sending more personnel for specialized military instruction. Museveni encouraged the Gabonese leader to remain persistent in his national reforms, drawing from his own decades-long experience in the liberation struggle.
“I am glad for what you are doing in Gabon because African leaders made a lot of mistakes in the past, but I am happy that we are now able to correct some of them,” Museveni noted.
The leaders concluded by reaffirming their commitment to private sector growth and regional integration. President Nguema pledged to follow Museveni’s vision for African self-reliance. This diplomatic engagement marks a significant step in strengthening the economic bridge between East and Central Africa.
