Uganda's Speaker Oboth Urges African Countries to Embrace Value Addition and Industrialisation

The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oboth Oboth, has challenged African countries to shift their focus from exporting raw materials to investing in value addition and industrialisation. He believes this is key to transforming the continent's natural wealth into economic prosperity for its people. Oboth Oboth made these remarks while opening a capacity development seminar for Members of Parliament from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region at Imperial Beach Hotel in Entebbe.

The seminar, which has attracted 42 legislators from nine Commonwealth countries, is themed "Transformation: Parliamentary Leadership Securing Africa's Resource Wealth for Sustainable Development." Oboth Oboth noted that Africa's greatest challenge is not the lack of natural resources but its failure to convert the abundant wealth into jobs, industries, and improved livelihoods. He cited countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Germany, which have achieved economic prosperity through effective resource management, industrialisation, technological advancement, and strong institutions.

Oboth Oboth observed that although African countries continue to extract and export vast quantities of raw materials, much of the processing, manufacturing, employment, and profits generated from these resources remain outside the continent. He urged African governments to prioritise local processing and manufacturing, emphasising that the real economic value of resources such as minerals, coffee, and crude oil lies in the finished products and industries they generate.

The Speaker challenged African legislators to use their lawmaking, budgeting, and oversight responsibilities to ensure that the continent's natural resources deliver tangible benefits to its citizens. He called on parliamentarians to scrutinise natural resource extraction contracts, strengthen local content laws, promote employment and skills development, and ensure transparency and accountability in the management of resource revenues.

Oboth Oboth also emphasised the need to protect communities affected by natural resource extraction and safeguard the environment to ensure that resource exploitation does not compromise the interests of future generations. He urged participants to use the seminar to develop practical legislative and oversight recommendations that can be presented to their respective parliaments for consideration and implementation.

The Speaker said Africa's natural wealth must ultimately translate into meaningful economic opportunities, job creation, infrastructure development, industrial growth, and improved living standards for its people. He encouraged parliamentarians to take an active role in ensuring that the continent's resources are managed sustainably and equitably. The seminar provides a platform for legislators to share experiences and best practices in managing Africa's resource wealth.

The event was organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region, and it aims to equip parliamentarians with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively oversee the management of natural resources in their respective countries. By Francis Lubega, 10th Nov 2026, Radio Sapientia 94.4 FM reported on the seminar, highlighting the need for African countries to adopt a more sustainable approach to managing their natural resources.

Key points

• African countries should prioritise local processing and manufacturing to maximise the economic benefits of their natural resources.
• Effective resource management, industrialisation, technological advancement, and strong institutions are key drivers of economic prosperity.
• Parliamentarians have a critical role to play in ensuring that Africa's natural resources deliver tangible benefits to its citizens.