President Museveni arrives in Nairobi for high-level infrastructure forum

President Yoweri Museveni has arrived in Nairobi to participate in the Africa We Build Summit 2026, a high-level continental gathering focused on accelerating infrastructure delivery.

The two-day forum, hosted at the JW Marriott, comes as Kenya and Uganda intensify coordination on major cross-border projects. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei welcomed the Ugandan leader on Wednesday, signaling the start of a summit dedicated to moving projects from the drawing board to actual site work.

Organised by the Africa Finance Corporation in partnership with the Kenyan government, the event brings together ministers, development finance institutions, and private sector leaders. President William Ruto is expected to deliver the keynote address, focusing on the theme of infrastructure as a primary driver for industrial growth.

A central priority for the attending delegates is the persistent financing gap that has delayed large-scale works across the continent. Discussions are expected to focus on mobilising domestic capital and aligning regulatory frameworks to make projects more attractive to international investors.

The summit follows recent momentum in the region, particularly regarding the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway toward the Ugandan border. In March, both President Ruto and President Museveni officiated at the launch of the Kisumu-Malaba SGR extension, a multi-billion-dollar project intended to lower transport costs along the Northern Corridor.

By shifting heavy cargo from roads to rail, the two nations aim to reduce maintenance costs on regional highways and improve the transit of petroleum products via integrated pipelines.

Organisers stated that the 2026 summit will shift away from general policy talk toward practical implementation. The focus remains on creating scalable opportunities that provide tangible outcomes for regional trade.

Experts attending the forum noted that coordinating policy environments between neighbouring states is essential for the success of integrated corridor systems. Such systems are viewed as critical for connecting production centres with the Port of Mombasa and other regional hubs.

The gathering also highlights the role of East Africa as a testing ground for innovative infrastructure models. As the delegation explores risk mitigation and lower-cost financing, the outcomes of the Nairobi summit may set the template for future industrial corridors across the rest of Africa.