President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has heaped praise on Kenyan President William Ruto after revealing that Kenya is the only country he permitted to continue taking Uganda’s red ochre outside the country despite having banned European companies from doing so.
In a video shared widely online, Museveni explained that foreign companies from Europe had long been exploiting Uganda by purchasing red ochre at extremely low prices, processing it abroad, and later selling it back to Ugandans at highly inflated rates.
According to Museveni, this practice amounted to economic sabotage and was costing the country billions in potential revenue.
The President expressed frustration over the trend, saying Ugandans had been “duped for too long,” prompting him to ban all European entities involved in the mineral’s extraction and export.
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Museveni stated that he directed the foreign companies to set up processing plants within Uganda if they wished to continue dealing in the mineral, insisting that value addition must happen locally so that the revenue and jobs remain in the country.
“We cannot continue donating wealth to outsiders,” he said in the video, underscoring his long-standing stance on industrialization and domestic beneficiation.
However, Museveni revealed that President William Ruto was granted a special exemption. He explained that he allowed Kenya to take red ochre for processing abroad, but only for a limited period of three years.
The Ugandan leader noted that this decision was made out of respect and cooperation with Kenya, adding that he trusted Ruto’s commitment to regional economic growth. After the three-year window, the same rules will apply, and processing will be expected to take place within Uganda.
The revelation has sparked discussions across East Africa, with many noting the significance of the gesture amid ongoing efforts to strengthen regional trade and industrialization.
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