Makerere University’s Yusuf Lule Auditorium buzzed with energy on Tuesday as the 8th Kampala Geopolitics Conference got underway.
This year’s theme, “The African Dimensions in International Debates,” drives home a bold message: Africa is no longer waiting to be spoken for — it’s speaking up.
The two-day event, running April 9–10, focuses on empowering African perspectives in shaping both regional priorities and global narratives. Representing Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, a university delegate emphasized Makerere’s pride in hosting this annual exchange of ideas.
He highlighted persistent funding gaps—especially those worsened by past U.S. policy shifts under the Trump administration—that continue to stall research and humanitarian work across Africa.
From academic innovation to regional instability, the university’s message was clear: Africa must lead in addressing its challenges.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) loomed large in discussions. The representative called the crisis there a geopolitical powder keg that demands coordinated African action. He also praised students’ tech innovation but warned about unregulated AI tools, citing risks to national security.
French Ambassador H.E. Xavier Sticker agreed. He urged African governments to establish robust oversight for AI and digital technologies before damage outpaces policy. He also flagged maritime insecurity as a silent threat to landlocked countries like Uganda.
With global shipping lanes in flux—especially in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean—regional economies remain vulnerable to disruptions.
Nils Wormer of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung saluted Uganda’s role in regional stability. He stressed that Africa–Europe partnerships must evolve beyond aid to mutual respect and strategic engagement.
The panel moderated by Prof. Paul Omach tackled the DRC’s endless unrest. Former IGG Augustine Ruzindana didn’t mince words. He blamed colonial legacies and lazy Western media for obscuring the root causes of Congo’s pain. His call? Local solutions, not foreign lectures.
Political analyst Prof. Frederick Golooba-Mutebi took aim at the DRC’s weak governance. Without real state control, he said, armed groups will always find a home. He urged African leaders to stop outsourcing solutions and instead build regional resolve.
Dr. Prof. Hellen Nambalirwa Nkabala added that Congo’s terrain and poor infrastructure feed the insurgency.
She criticized the West’s profit-driven “peacekeeping” and questioned why Congolese leaders haven’t forged stronger bonds with neighboring countries. Her conclusion was stark: Peace won’t come until accountability does.
The conference continues today, centering Africa in the world’s geopolitical discourse. From digital sovereignty to grassroots peacebuilding, one thing is clear—Africa isn’t just part of the conversation. It’s driving it.
