President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Eswatini, Rt. Hon. Russell Mmiso Dlamini, at Speke Resort, Munyonyo.
During a meeting held at the sidelines of the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), the two leaders discussed matters relating to agriculture, economic sovereignty and deepening ties between Uganda and Eswatini.
Rt. Hon. Dlamini expressed gratitude for Uganda’s hospitality, acknowledging President Museveni’s consistent advocacy for food sovereignty and economic self-reliance.
“I have been following your speeches on social media and in meetings like this, you have been articulate in emphasizing food sovereignty and the dangers of relying on external aid. Today, your simple yet profound explanation of exporting jobs and relying on donations resonated deeply with me,” he remarked.
Rt. Hon. Dlamini added that President Museveni’s approach demonstrates that transformation can be achieved through practical, small-scale efforts rather than complex solutions.
He formally conveyed greetings from King Mswati III and the Queen Mother of Eswatini and sought Uganda’s support for Eswatini’s candidate for the African Union Commissioner of Agriculture job.
“Eswatini has never held this position before, and we believe it is time. Our candidate, Mr. Moses Vilakati, a former Minister of Agriculture, is highly qualified and certified. We request Uganda’s backing in this contest, especially since we are competing with Zimbabwe and other countries. We have engaged South African states and believe we have a strong chance.”
President Museveni responded positively, acknowledging Eswatini’s lack of representation in major African Union appointments.
“If Eswatini has never had a significant appointment, that is a strong reason to support its bid, provided the candidate is competent,” President Museveni said.
He asked the Eswatini team to research Mozambique and Zimbabwe’s history of representation to ensure a balanced approach.
President Museveni also reiterated the importance of Africa moving away from exporting raw materials and instead focusing on adding value to its resources.
He highlighted the example of coffee, where Africa earns $2.5 per kilogram as a raw material, compared to $40 per kilogram for processed coffee abroad.
“This is how Africa has been a major donor to the rest of the world. We lose not only money but also jobs. The roasting, grinding, and packaging jobs go to the children of foreigners, while our children drown in the Mediterranean Sea, running away from impoverished Africa to prosperous Europe.”
The President also emphasized the need for African nations to adopt commercial agriculture and invest in local value addition.
“The crisis of unemployment stems from exporting jobs. We grow coffee, de-husk it, and sell it for $2.50, while others process and package it, creating jobs for their children,” he said.
