Museveni Advocates Political Union for Shared East African Economic Gains

President Yoweri Museveni has underscored the critical need for enhanced political unity within East Africa, stating that such integration is paramount to ensure that significant cross-border investments translate into shared economic benefits and employment opportunities for all member states.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Special Economic Zone in Lamu, Kenya, Museveni highlighted the limitations imposed by national borders. He used the example of processing Nigerian petroleum within Nigeria, where free movement of labor and unified tax systems prevent friction, contrasting it with the potential for unequal distribution of benefits if raw materials from one East African nation were processed in another.

Museveni proposed that political integration should run parallel to economic projects. While acknowledging the benefit of East African countries acquiring shares in the Lamu refinery to share profits, he stressed that shareholding alone would not adequately address the critical issue of job creation for the region’s populace.

He urged East African leaders to “wake up” and pursue political integration to maximize their collective future. This call aligns with the East African Community’s long-standing objective of political federation, a goal that has seen progress in economic blocs but remains incomplete due to various challenges including sovereignty concerns and differing political systems.

During the event, Museveni also commended Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote for his significant investments in production, particularly his transition from cement manufacturing to petroleum refining, viewing it as a positive example of African capital driving industrial development.

Source: Nile Post