Editorial
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on European countries to take advantage of their proximity to Africa and increase investments on the continent for mutual economic growth and prosperity.
Speaking on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, while meeting a high-level Austrian delegation on the sidelines of the ongoing 19th Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, the President emphasized that Africa presents vast untapped opportunities that Europe continues to overlook.
“I feel sorry that Europeans are our relatives, speaking English like me because I don’t speak Russian, but the Europeans have not been taking advantage of that, and yet they are also near Africa. They are not far away,” President Museveni remarked.
He jokingly added that “some of the European countries should be members of the African Union,” given their historical and cultural connections to the continent.
“But somehow, they have neglected the opportunities in Africa, including business investment,” he said.
President Museveni contrasted Europe’s hesitation with China’s growing engagement in Africa, noting that “When you see the Chinese come here and they are really doing great work, you wonder why our European people are totally sleeping.”
The President reiterated that Uganda and Africa at large were ready to welcome more European investors.
The Austrian delegation was led by Foreign Affairs Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, who informed President Museveni that for the first time in history, the Austrian government had decided to draft a comprehensive African Strategy to guide its engagement with the continent.
“We have been long-standing partners, and I think next year we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of our bilateral relations,” Meinl-Reisinger said.
“Uganda and Austria have been partners in development cooperation, which has its limits, as you stated, but we are now also focusing on economic opportunities. And we see opportunities there as a very young and dynamic, innovative continent,” the Austrian minister added, lauding Uganda’s youthful population as a key advantage for investment and innovation.
“Your country’s average age is 16 years – it’s truly amazing. So, I would very much appreciate intensifying our bilateral relations,” she said.
Meinl-Reisinger revealed that Austria and Uganda were finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding on Mobility and Migration, which would facilitate greater movement of Ugandans to Austria for business and other opportunities.
The meeting took place alongside deliberations at the 19th Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Coordinating Bureau, which brought together representatives from more than 120 countries to discuss global peace, economic cooperation, and South-South partnerships.
