ENTEBBE, May 12, 2025 –– The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa has urged African countries to take charge of their economic destiny by adding value to their natural resources like minerals, and ending the cycle of poverty in homesteads.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the 3rd African Regional Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Emerging Global Challenges at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel in Entebbe on Sunday, Tayebwa questioned why Africa, rich in resources, continues to suffer from underdevelopment.
“From the rainforests of the Congo Basin to Nigeria’s oil fields, Ghana’s gold reserves, Tanzania’s rare earth minerals, and the cobalt riches of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa is abundantly endowed with natural resources. Yet, the continent remains mired in poverty,” he said.
“Why does a land so rich remain so poor? This was the central question I attempted to address.”
Tayebwa pointed out that although Africa holds 60 percent of the world’s arable land, the continent was severely affected by food shortages following the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine. He attributed this vulnerability to Africa’s continued reliance on exporting raw materials rather than developing local value chains.
“We earn little from our minerals because they are extracted and exported in raw form, without local value addition that could create jobs and wealth at home,” he explained.
Tayebwa urged fellow legislators in Africa to move beyond the historical blame game and focus on shaping the continent’s economic future.
“I challenged my fellow parliamentarians: it’s time we stopped blaming colonialists more than half a century after independence. We may not be responsible for our past, but we are entirely responsible for our future. We can no longer hide behind the excuse of colonial history.”
He emphasised the need for unity, transparency, and committed leadership to achieve economic transformation, citing successful examples such as Botswana and Ghana, where effective mineral management has delivered real benefits.
Tayebwa also applauded President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s stance on mineral policy.
“I’m glad our President Kaguta Museveni has made it clear that no minerals will leave Uganda in raw form. This will enable us as a country to get a fair share.”
He concluded by calling for resource revenues to be strictly allocated to critical services, particularly in mining communities.
“Next is to ensure that funds from these natural resources are ring-fenced for specific services, especially infrastructure development, schools, and health facilities starting with communities where these minerals are extracted.”
The conference brought together parliamentarians and policy experts from across the continent to deliberate on strategies to address Africa’s emerging global challenges, including climate change, geopolitical instability and sustainable development.
https://thecooperator.news/tayebwa-advocates-for-more-research-in-areas-of-economic-growth/
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