By: Wafono James
NAIROBI~ Kenya|April 23, 2026 Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni, has arrived in Nairobi to attend the Africa We Build Summit 2026, a major continental gathering aimed at accelerating infrastructure development as a driver of industrialisation.
The high-level summit is convened by the Africa Finance Corporation in partnership with the Government of Kenya, and is taking place from April 23–24 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Nairobi.
President Museveni was received upon arrival by senior Kenyan officials, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, as heads of state, policymakers, and global investors gather for what is being described as a decisive moment for Africa’s development agenda.
Infrastructure Takes Centre Stage
Held under the theme “Infrastructure as the Engine of Industrialisation,” the summit is shifting focus from policy discussions to real implementation.
Key deliberations at the summit include:
Mobilising both domestic and international capital for infrastructure projects
Strengthening regional integration through transport, energy, and logistics networks
Promoting value addition and reducing reliance on raw material exports
African leaders, including Kenya’s President William Ruto and business magnate Aliko Dangote, have emphasized the urgent need for the continent to move away from exporting raw materials and instead build strong local industries that create jobs and retain wealth.
Bridging Africa’s Infrastructure Gap
The summit comes against the backdrop of a widening infrastructure financing gap across the continent. Stakeholders are calling for innovative financing models and better utilisation of Africa’s growing domestic capital.
Experts note that while African economies have seen an increase in financial reserves, much of this capital remains underutilised in transformative sectors such as infrastructure-limiting the continent’s long-term growth potential.
Uganda’s participation highlights its commitment to infrastructure-led growth, with investments prioritised in transport corridors, energy generation, and oil and gas development.
Kampala views infrastructure as a key pillar for:
Industrialisation
Regional trade integration
Socio-economic transformation
The Nairobi summit is also expected to reinforce East Africa’s position as a hub for cross-border infrastructure, with Kenya playing a central role as a regional logistics and industrial powerhouse.
Organisers describe the Africa We Build Summit 2026 as a results-oriented platform aimed at closing the gap between planning and execution.
By bringing together governments, financiers, and private sector players, the forum seeks to unlock bankable projects and scalable investments capable of transforming Africa’s industrial future.
As discussions continue, leaders including President Museveni are expected to push for concrete partnerships and actionable commitments to turn infrastructure ambitions into tangible economic outcomes across the continent.
