This year’s UAE–East Africa Trade and Investment Mission, led by the Sharjah Exports Development Center and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, delivered a clear message. The Gulf is increasingly ready to do business, and Uganda continues to rise on its radar. As a result, both sides are now pushing to accelerate investment flows, deepen cooperation, and strengthen long term economic ties.
Trade Growth Accelerates as Uganda Targets Tenfold Expansion
State Minister for Trade Wilson Mbasu Mbadi captured the momentum, noting that non-oil trade between Uganda and the UAE has already surpassed two billion dollars annually. He added that this marks only the beginning because the long term goal is to expand this figure tenfold.
As this ambition grows, so does the ecosystem of partnerships fueling it. Already, more than one hundred twenty memoranda of understanding have been signed between Ugandan and UAE companies. These agreements span agribusiness, ICT, energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure, demonstrating the breadth of opportunities attracting Gulf investors.
Uganda–UAE relations have matured into what Mbadi described as a robust and dynamic relationship built on mutual trust and consistent investment. Uganda now exports gold, coffee, tea, fish, and fresh produce to the UAE. In return, the UAE supplies petroleum products, vehicles, machinery, textiles, and electronics. This exchange has been strengthened by the UAE’s world class logistics network, extending from Dubai Ports to Emirates SkyCargo.
Investment Opportunities Broaden Across Key Sectors
Despite strong trade performance, the overall goal remains much wider. Mbadi emphasized that Uganda’s push for industrialisation under the Tenfold Growth Strategy requires investors capable of processing raw materials into textiles, pharmaceuticals, packaging, agro-processing, and light manufacturing. He explained that Uganda is building the necessary infrastructure to support this transition, highlighting major projects such as the Entebbe Airport expansion, the Kampala–Jinja Expressway, the revival of the Uganda Railways, and the development of Bukasa and Port Bell inland ports.
Special Envoy on Tourism and Trade Rosa Malango advanced a complementary pitch focusing on energy, financing, and innovation. She highlighted Uganda’s vast potential, including six and a half billion barrels of oil reserves, two thousand megawatts of hydropower, and extensive solar capacity. She noted that these strengths offer over twenty billion dollars in investment opportunities. Malango called for partners in upstream development, petrochemicals, refinery construction, and the Kabale Industrial Park.
She also cited Amea Power’s twenty million dollar investment in a solar plant in Arua as evidence that Gulf investors are already positioning themselves for Uganda’s clean energy future. Moreover, she discussed the possibility of establishing a Uganda–UAE Business Council under the AfCFTA to ease policy coordination and unlock greater continental access for Emirati investors.
Uganda Positions Itself as a Gateway to Africa
From the Uganda Investment Authority, Rita Nabateregga emphasised Uganda’s strategic advantage, noting that the country sits at the heart of Africa. She stated that investors who enter Uganda gain access to more than one point three billion consumers across the EAC, COMESA, and AfCFTA regions. To support this, she explained that the UIA One-Stop Centre now consolidates fifteen government agencies to streamline procedures, including licensing, tax registration, visas, and utilities.
Uganda continues to enhance its appeal through incentives such as ten year tax holidays, zero import duty on machinery, and deductions for research and development. These measures are increasingly attracting investors seeking scalable and long term opportunities in fast growing markets.
