Luanda, Angola – Hon. Gen. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, represented H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the 3rd Summit on Financing for Infrastructure Development in Africa, held under the High Patronage of H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union. The Summit, convened from 28th to 31st October 2025, brought together Heads of State, Ministers, development partners, and private sector leaders to deliberate on sustainable mechanisms for financing Africa’s infrastructure within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Agenda 2063.
In his address, delivered by Hon. Gen. Odongo, President Museveni underscored that Africa’s integration and industrial transformation depended on prioritising infrastructure projects that enhance regional connectivity, energy access, and trade facilitation. He emphasised that the continent’s abundant natural wealth should be leveraged to finance its own development rather than over-reliance on external borrowing. Drawing from Uganda’s experience, he highlighted strategic projects like the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), hydropower generation exceeding 2,000MW, and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) as examples of infrastructure that stimulate cross-border trade and collective prosperity.
The President called for a renewed continental resolve toward financial sovereignty, urging African nations to add value to their natural resources to close the estimated USD 180 billion annual infrastructure financing gap. He reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to utilizing oil revenues and other domestic resources to expand infrastructure that supports manufacturing, logistics, and digital transformation.
The Luanda Summit, co-organised by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), convened under the theme “Capital, Corridors, Trade: Investing in Infrastructure for the AfCFTA and Shared Prosperity.” It examined pathways to accelerate investment in transport, energy, ICT, and water sectors pillars seen as critical to Africa’s economic resilience and integration. A notable innovation of the Summit was the introduction of Project Boardrooms, where priority regional projects such as the Lobito Corridor, the Grand Inga Hydropower Project, and transcontinental digital connectivity initiatives were presented to potential investors.
Hon. Gen. Odongo reiterated Uganda’s support for continental initiatives such as the African Single Electricity Market and the Single African Air Transport Market, emphasising their role in deepening trade and mobility. The Summit concluded with adoption of the Luanda Declaration, reaffirming Africa’s resolve to mobilise capital, strengthen partnerships, and harness home-grown solutions to unlock the continent’s infrastructure potential.
