Interviews with Regional Leaders

Perspectives on East Africa’s Future

Minister of Trade

Hon. Jean Mugabe, Minister of Trade and Industry – Rwanda

Minister Jean Mugabe opened our conversation with a bold assertion: "Rwanda is ready for AfCFTA not just in policy, but in practice." He described how the country has invested heavily in transport corridors, warehousing facilities, and border logistics that are AfCFTA-compliant. These strategic investments, particularly in the Bugesera Special Economic Zone and Rusumo One-Stop Border Post, are designed to reduce trade friction across East and Central Africa.

The minister emphasized the role of digital trade facilitation in unlocking regional commerce. Rwanda's E-Single Window, he explained, integrates customs, standards, immigration, and quarantine clearances into one digital platform—cutting export clearance time by over 40%. Such innovations, he noted, position Rwanda as a leader in trade transparency and efficiency across the East African region.

In our discussion, Mugabe spoke about the country's ambition to evolve into a regional processing hub. "We must not be satisfied with exporting raw materials,” he said. “Our future lies in adding value—turning tea leaves into premium exports, coffee cherries into global blends, and minerals into electronics components." This vision is already in motion, with agro-processing clusters and textile production zones gaining traction in partnership with regional investors.

Minister Mugabe also acknowledged the importance of regional cooperation. "Trade integration is not a solo act," he remarked. "We need synchronized standards, mutual recognition of certification, and cross-border investment protection." Rwanda, he added, is actively engaging with COMESA, EAC, and SADC to harmonize industrial policies and streamline dispute resolution mechanisms under the AfCFTA framework.

When asked about youth and women in trade, the minister was candid: "We must be intentional about inclusion." Rwanda has launched specialized financing for women-led export businesses and partnered with universities to build export-readiness skills among students. “Trade is not just an economic lever,” he concluded, “it is a path to shared prosperity, dignity, and regional peace.”

References

  • East African Community. (2024). AfCFTA Implementation Report. Retrieved from https://www.eac.int
  • World Bank. (2023). Rwanda Trade Facilitation: Country Brief. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1896-7
  • Ministry of Trade and Industry, Rwanda. (2023). Annual Sector Performance Report. Kigali, Rwanda.
Director of TVETA Kenya

Dr. Mercy Wambui, Director, TVETA – Kenya

Dr. Mercy Wambui began our dialogue by framing the skills gap as a continental challenge. “Africa’s development will stall if we don’t equip youth with employable skills,” she warned. As Director of Kenya's Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), she leads the effort to overhaul the country’s TVET system into a responsive, industry-aligned engine for human capital development.

She highlighted several ongoing reforms, including the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) model now adopted nationally. “We are no longer training for exams,” she stressed, “we are training for the world of work.” The approach involves partnerships with employers who help design curricula and assess students during internships, ensuring that skills match evolving industry standards.

Dr. Wambui also emphasized the necessity of regional alignment. She advocated for harmonization of vocational qualifications across East African countries, noting that mobility and labor portability will be essential under the AfCFTA framework. “An electrician trained in Nairobi,” she explained, “should be able to work in Kigali or Kampala without retraining.”

Equity in access to training is another focus of her leadership. TVETA is scaling community-based training centers in underserved areas and offering targeted scholarships to young women in STEM trades. “TVET is the bridge,” she said, “between rural poverty and urban opportunity. But we must make it accessible to all.”

In closing, Dr. Wambui shared her excitement about East Africa’s youth. “This is a generation of creators, not just job seekers,” she declared. “Our duty is to remove the barriers, standardize the systems, and let them build the Africa they deserve.” Her words reflect not only a technical vision, but a humanistic one—grounded in dignity, opportunity, and regional unity.

References

Minister of Agriculture Uganda

Hon. Peter Nyangoma, Minister of Agriculture – Uganda

Minister Peter Nyangoma offered a sobering perspective on climate change’s impact on agriculture in East Africa. “The rains no longer follow the calendar,” he stated. “And when they come, they come in floods.” Uganda, like many neighbors, is now embedding climate adaptation in all agricultural planning. This includes shifting crop calendars, diversifying to drought-resistant species, and investing in water harvesting infrastructure.

The minister highlighted the significance of regional research collaboration. Uganda is working with Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania on joint trials for climate-resilient seeds and pest control methods. “Pests don’t respect borders,” he quipped. “Neither should our scientific response.” Collaborative research centers and cross-border extension services are helping farmers access localized knowledge faster.

Value chain modernization is also central to Uganda’s strategy. Minister Nyangoma detailed plans to upgrade rural agro-processing units, improve cold chain logistics, and digitize market access for smallholders. “Post-harvest losses are a silent killer,” he warned. “We grow enough food, but we lose too much of it before it reaches markets.”

Policy-wise, Uganda is aligning with the Malabo Declaration and the CAADP framework. Subsidies for climate-smart inputs, blended finance for cooperatives, and risk insurance for farmers are being scaled. “Agriculture is not charity,” he said. “It is enterprise. But it needs protection and innovation to thrive in a warming world.”

Minister Nyangoma concluded with a call for political will and regional trust. “No one country can ensure food security alone. We must coordinate grain reserves, align phytosanitary measures, and trade freely across borders.” His vision is one of interconnected resilience—where East Africa feeds itself and the world, not despite climate shocks, but because of smart, unified action.

References

Finance Expert

Ms. Rose Mugenzi, Head of Green Finance Taskforce – EAC

Ms. Rose Mugenzi is at the forefront of one of East Africa’s boldest financial transformations: green finance. “We cannot talk about sustainability without reforming the way we fund development,” she said. As Head of the EAC’s Green Finance Taskforce, her mission is to embed environmental risk and opportunity into the region’s financial DNA.

She described the emergence of blended finance instruments that combine donor capital, government guarantees, and private investment. “Green doesn’t mean risky,” she asserted. “It means future-proof.” Ms. Mugenzi showcased examples of clean cooking projects, solar irrigation startups, and ecosystem restoration programs now attracting climate finance from both local banks and global funds.

A major breakthrough, she explained, has been the growing appetite for green bonds. Kenya and Rwanda have already issued sovereign and municipal bonds tied to climate goals. “Investors want two things: return and relevance,” she said. “And ESG-aligned projects offer both.” The Taskforce is currently supporting the creation of regional standards and taxonomies to streamline green investment flows.

Policy reform is also key. Ms. Mugenzi pointed to regulatory sandboxes in financial authorities that allow innovation in climate risk insurance, carbon credits trading, and pay-as-you-grow agricultural loans. “We must innovate with integrity,” she said, “ensuring safeguards even as we accelerate financing for the green transition.”

She ended with a hopeful message. “Our youth understand sustainability not as a concept, but as a calling,” she said. “They want to build businesses that regenerate, not deplete. If we give them the tools—policy, capital, and training—they will green East Africa from the roots up.”

References

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