The Eleventh Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-11) concluded this week at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo, Kampala, with resounding calls for homegrown solutions, regional integration, and a renewed commitment to Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The three-day ARFSD forum, jointly organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Government of Uganda, and key partners such as the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank, brought together ministers, technocrats, development partners, civil society actors, and youth under the theme: โDriving job creation and economic growth through sustainable, inclusive, science-and evidence-based solutions.โ
The choice of Uganda as host was both symbolic and strategic. Kampala has increasingly positioned itself as a regional hub for sustainable development dialogue, and the countryโs experiences navigating development under pressure were a key topic throughout the Forum.
Over several days of intense pre-events, side-events, and plenaries running till 11th, participants examined Africaโs progress on SDGs 3 (health), 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work), 14 (life below water), and 17 (partnerships), alongside the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP) of Agenda 2063.
A major highlight of the Forum was the address by Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who delivered a passionate call for Africa to take charge of its destiny through internal capacity, self-reliance, and regional collaboration.
โWhile external support can supplement our efforts,โ he said, โtrue sustainability lies in building internal capabilities and driving our own development agendas.โ
President Museveni spoke candidly about Ugandaโs recent economic journey, especially in light of external pressures following the enactment of controversial legislation. He noted that despite sanctions, including suspension of loans and removal from trade agreements, Ugandaโs economy continued to grow by 6%, a testament, he said, to the countryโs resilience and economic foundations.
Tracing Ugandaโs economic evolution, Museveni took delegates on a historical journey: from pre-colonial subsistence systems, through colonial enclave economies based on the “3Cs and 3Ts” (Cotton, Coffee, Copper, Tobacco, Tea, and Tourism), to the collapse during Idi Aminโs regime and the recovery under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) era.
He highlighted five transformative achievements of the NRM government:
- Revival of the collapsed economy.
- Expansion of traditional export sectors, such as coffee (from 3 million to 9 million bags annually).
- Diversification into milk, beef, maize, fruits, and fish.
- Investment in value addition and industrialization.
- Transitioning to a knowledge economy through innovations in vehicle, vaccine, and computer manufacturing.
In a strong message on economic inclusion, Museveni called for urgent transformation of Ugandaโs agricultural sector. โIn 2013, 68% of households were in subsistence farming,โ he said. โWe responded with Operation Wealth Creation, the Parish Development Model, and promoted economically viable enterprises like poultry, fruits, piggery, and fish farming.โ
He stressed the vast job creation potential of agriculture, estimating that if used efficiently, seven million acres of land could create over 100 million jobs, more than Ugandaโs entire population.
Beyond agriculture, Museveni outlined the four pillars supporting Ugandaโs economic structure: agriculture (3.6 million jobs), industry/artisanship (1.4 million), services (5 million), and ICT (46,000). He underscored the need to address strategic bottlenecks such as poor transport infrastructure, limited access to credit, and reliance on raw material exports.
โSuperficial growth is dangerous,โ the President cautioned. โWhat we need is deep, sustainable, and transformative progress, or else we risk perpetual underdevelopment.โ
Beyond Museveniโs keynote, ARFSD served as a critical moment of reflection and alignment for Africa. With only six years to 2030, participants agreed on the urgency of accelerating implementation through:
- Adoption of science- and evidence-based policies.
- Deepening cross-border integration to drive economic growth.
- Strengthening institutional capacities to deliver services and monitor progress.
The Kampala edition of ARFSD was a rallying cry for African solutions to African challenges. As President Museveni and other leaders emphasized, now is the time for Africa to leverage its resources, people, and knowledge systems to forge a future defined by resilience, self-determination, and inclusive prosperity.
