Uganda Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa urges OACPS nations to add value and boost industry

At the 121st OACPS Council of Ministers in Brussels, Uganda’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa called on the 79‑member bloc to centre trade, industrialisation and value‑addition in their development agendas. He warned that exporting raw minerals and agricultural commodities deprives developing countries of jobs, wealth and sustainable growth, noting that Africa holds about US$29.5 trillion in mineral wealth but receives only a fraction of the value because most resources leave the continent unprocessed. Tayebwa cited the Democratic Republic of Congo’s cobalt‑processing investments and Uganda’s own progress in gold processing as examples of how local value chains can raise revenues and create employment.

In a separate bilateral meeting at the European Parliament, Tayebwa talked with Hilde Vautmans, chair of the Africa‑EU Parliamentary Assembly, and Uganda’s ambassador to the EU. He highlighted Uganda’s contribution to the fight against Ebola in the DRC, its role in regional conflict resolution, and the long‑standing partnership with the European Union, stating, “The European Union has proved to be a very reliable partner for Uganda over the last 50 years…”. He also extended an invitation to the EU delegation to visit Uganda to further strengthen cooperation.