President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has emphasised Uganda’s commitment to developing its oil refinery while maintaining cooperation with Tanzania on regional energy infrastructure, including projects linked to Tanga.
The President noted that having more refineries within the region would support Africa’s broader development goals rather than create unnecessary competition. He stressed that African countries should focus on adding value to their natural resources, expanding industrial production and building larger integrated markets.
President Museveni has consistently advocated for value addition as an important step towards creating jobs, increasing incomes and enabling African countries to benefit more from their resources instead of relying heavily on the export of raw materials.
He also highlighted the importance of deeper East African integration, describing political integration as a long-term strategic matter for the region.
According to the President, stronger regional cooperation and integration can help East African countries build larger markets, strengthen their economies and collectively address the region’s long-term development and strategic interests.