Museveni admits bribes drove Dangote away from Uganda as Kenya lands $16B refinery

Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote broke ground on a $16 billion refinery complex in Lamu, Kenya, last week, promising to complete the 700,000-barrel-per-day facility within 40 months before East African leaders. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni confessed that Dangote previously avoided investing in Uganda due to officials demanding bribes, while also lamenting Africa's 70-year history of exporting raw materials and importing finished goods. Museveni noted Uganda's own refinery plans have stalled for 20 years with three failed partner agreements. The project, conceived only six months ago, drew presidents from Kenya, Uganda, Benin, Togo, and Ethiopia's prime minister. Dangote announced $50 billion in planned African investments through 2030, though a land dispute filed by 133 local residents is scheduled for court on October 14.