Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni called exporting raw materials from Africa “treason” during talks with a European Union delegation this week, saying the practice only creates “partial prosperity” that benefits the West while leaving Africans poorer.
Speaking on Wednesday at State House in Entebbe during the first Uganda–EU Partnership Dialogue (marking 50 years of ties), Museveni told the EU side, led by Ambassador Jan Sadek, that Europe should help African countries process their resources at home instead of shipping them out raw.
“Europe should really help Africa process its raw materials… so they export refined products and create more jobs,” he said. “We must all process fully so that we all become partners and not victims of cooperation.”
He was especially blunt about African leaders, calling the continued export of unprocessed goods “criminal” and a betrayal. He used coffee as an example: raw beans might sell for around $2 a kilo, while the finished product can fetch about $40. Producing countries earn only a small share of the global coffee market, he noted, while places like Germany (which doesn’t grow coffee) make far more from it.
Museveni also pushed back on what he called “partial wealth,” describing it as self-defeating, and said a richer Africa would simply buy more European goods. He added that the EU should stay out of Uganda’s domestic politics: “Once you don’t interfere with our political issues and social issues, leave us.”
Ambassador Sadek reaffirmed the partnership and welcomed more local processing of products like coffee. The two sides discussed trade, investment, and other issues and agreed to keep the dialogue going annually.
The comments match Museveni’s long-running push for African countries to stop exporting raw materials and start adding value at home. Ugandan media and TRT Afrika have both highlighted the remarks.