President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on African governments to prioritize making their citizens prosperous rather than relying on foreign aid.

President Museveni made these remarks on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, while speaking at the launch of Kenya’s bill for the position of African Union Commission in Nairobi, where he emphasized that true prosperity for Africa hinges on its ability to produce quality goods and services for its large market.

“Prosperity means to have enough food, have good shelter, you can describe it, education, health, but in order to get prosperity, if that is the main deficiency, what do we need to get it? Foreign aid, I don’t know what; all that cannot bring prosperity, according to what we discovered,” Museveni said.

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The president added that each adult must engage in the production of goods or services for African countries to achieve prosperity. He noted that Africa has a large market for quality goods and services, and if African governments focus on producing high-quality products, they will be able to trade and become prosperous.

The event, attended by East African Community leaders and former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, also saw Kenya nominate former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, for the African Union Commission position.

Museveni’s remarks come as African countries continue to grapple with poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment. The President believes that the key to Africa’s prosperity lies in the hands of its governments and citizens, rather than relying on external aid.