Africa is Not Poor, We Need Mindset Change and Home-grown Solutions- Experts
"We are not indigent. According to Professor Phillip Kasaija Apuuli, we need African answers to African problems with African leaders and African funding.
Africa is Not Poor, We Need Mindset Change and Home-grown Solutions- Experts
“We are not indigent. According to Professor Phillip Kasaija Apuuli, we need African answers to African problems with African leaders and African funding.
The absence of Africa at the G20 summit in Bali, according to Prof. Kasaija, a lecturer in the department of political science at Makerere University, “tells you where we are as a continent.”
The African Institute for Investigative Journalism’s Executive Director Solomon Serwanjja moderated a panel discussion on the “Global Impact of the War in Ukraine – African Perspective” on which he was speaking on Tuesday.
World leaders are attempting to end the conflict in Ukraine by speaking at the G-Summit as we speak. Many people are unaware of how severely this scourge has afflicted Africa, said Sserwanjja
Prof Phillip Kasaija Apuuli
At Makerere University’s Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility Auditorium, the fifth iteration of the Kampala Geopolitics Conference got under way on Tuesday, with broadcaster Sandra Twinoburyo of Nation Media Group serving as the conference’s host.
Prof. Kasaija claims that this conflict between Russia and Ukraine has exposed the haughtiness of several nations.
“We have significant obstacles, and as a continent, we must act more. How is it possible that we have food insecurity? We have the chance to create. We Africans are not organizing our affairs.
Senior economist at the World Bank Rachel Sebudde said during a panel discussion that the conflict in Ukraine has only made matters worse and that before it started, the world’s economies were already in disarray.
Rachel Sebudde
“The current inflation rates are a result of the disruptions in the supply chain and rising prices/p. This has caused the financial system to tighten, which has various effects. There have been effects on Africa from these changes.
Sebudde asserts that increased frequency and intensity of weather shocks have had an impact on agriculture.
“These shocks added together have caused anxiety in Africa. Politicians must improve their capacity to withstand shocks.
According to her, managing inflation and making sure it is under control should be the first line of defense because it primarily affects the poor.
International relations expert Dr. Samuel Kazibwe claimed that both Russia and Ukraine share responsibility for the ongoing conflict. Both countries made bad decisions.
Dr Samuel Kazibwe (R) speaking at the conference
According to him, the world has moved full circle and gone back to the cold war era. He says African leaders are trying to play a delicate balance, and it “affects us in a way”.
To him, being overly conscious is one of the implications of this Russia – Ukraine war…it’s a ripple effect of this war.
“It is important to find home-grown solutions, but we need to appreciate that the world has flattened. Even when we choose to close ourselves, we are living in a flattened world. What happens elsewhere affects us. Many times, African countries say they are sovereign, but sovereign in what?”
Bamba cultural group performing at the conference
African Solutions?
Prof. Kasaija contends that Africans must mobilize domestic resources in an effort to close the gap. He claims that although financial resources are becoming scarce, Africans must search within.
“We can raise internal resources, but the trust issue is the issue. Since COVID-19 and Ebola funds have been taken, there is no way I will donate my money.
We don’t need to travel anyplace, he said, “We can raise resources on this continent, but the issue of leadership is the reason we are here.”
Dr. Kazibwe contends that Africa must prioritize agriculture in the medium term. “We’re going to leave it to the peasants if the government doesn’t handle it like a baby.”
“In the short term, we can do internal mobilization but you have got to work on the trust of the population.”
While responding to Prof Kasaija’s concerns about untrustworthy leaders, Dr Kazibwe said governments are like human beings, they work best under pressure.
“So, the onus is on us to put the government under pressure to deliver. Leaders mismanage things because we have allowed them to do so.”
Globalisation and creative industries
“We all live in a global world, but it comes with a lot of opportunities and challenges as well, said Joseph Kigozi – General Manager of NBS Sport and Next Media Deputy Group CEO and Chief Strategy Officer, while introducing a panel discussion on the “Impact of Globalization on the Development of Sport and Cultural and Creative Industries”.
According to him, Africa has a lot of potential because “age is actually on our side since we are the youngest population in the world. Africa is a viable market for our own art productions, but are we harnessing the market potential?”
Speaking at the panel, Morris Mugisha, a Film Director, cited the need to learn from people who have already made it in life. “We need to do collaborations to uplift the local sports.”
Film director Morris Mugisha
He said African governments need to champion the drive for mindset change right from the support given to the arts studies and the change of mentality that arts and film aren’t worthy careers for the youth.
Rasheeda Nalumoso, Arts Manager at British Council Uganda, said Africans are not getting much of the pie yet the talent is here.
“The government needs to help us more. Although we have the skills, we aren’t given the chance to use them. In Uganda, many people receive loans to produce films; we need funders.
Rasheeda N. Ulmoso
She added: “We need to know that when you are investing in a sports person or film-maker, you should know that their career is going to be long. Sports and entertainment law firms ought to exist.
Nicole Magabo from Invention Film cited the need to empower the young generation with the power and support they need to enable them, first of all, to decide and then grow in the arts industry through refresher courses, favouring regulatory policies among other interventions.
