Uganda to Host 4th Uganda-UAE Business Forum in Kampala — A Strategic Pivot Toward Deeper Economic Ties

October 18, 2025 Weere Timothy

Kampala, Uganda From October 27 to 29, 2025, Uganda is set to host the 4th Uganda–UAE Business Forum at the Speke Resort Munyonyo, signaling a renewed drive to deepen trade, investment, and cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.

This edition comes at a time when the UAE has overtaken traditional regional partners to become one of Uganda’s fastest-growing export markets. The Forum is being billed not just as a bilateral dialogue, but as a platform to catalyze real deals and joint ventures across strategic sectors.

Objectives & Thematic Focus

Organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with Uganda’s diplomatic missions in the UAE, the Forum aims to:

Generate business-to-business (B2B) and government-to-business (G2B) linkages

Spotlight priority sectors like agriculture / agro-industrialisation, tourism, renewable energy, infrastructure, real estate, oil & gas, and innovation / technology

Promote Uganda’s Vision 2040 narrative of transforming into an upper-middle income economy through investment, industrialization and trade integration

Provide policy platforms for dialogue on enabling environment, trade barriers, financing, and regulatory alignment

A highlight expected: the keynote address by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, underscoring the government’s reform agenda and sets of incentives for UAE investors. The closing ceremony will be led by Foreign Affairs Minister Gen. Jeje Odongo.

Economists forecast that the Forum could help bridge gaps in capital, technology, and market access — particularly in agriculture, where value addition and export orientation remain underleveraged.

Why This Matters for Kampala & Uganda

Deepening Export Markets & Diversifying Partnerships
The UAE, with its trade hubs and logistics networks, offers Uganda an entry point to Gulf and wider Middle Eastern markets. Already, business ties are strengthening: Uganda has seen multiple MoUs signed in infrastructure, capacity building, and diplomacy during recent visits by UAE officials.
Rural-Urban Integration & Agro-Industrialization
To meet export standards and volumes, upstream farmers, agro-processors, logistics firms, and cold chain infrastructure must scale. Kampala’s role as a hub connecting rural producers to ports and the global market is pivotal.
Urban Growth & Investment Spillovers
Real estate, infrastructure, and tourism deals could generate urban jobs in Kampala (construction, services, hospitality). Innovations in green buildings, smart city tech, and renewable energy may find traction locally.
Signaling & Confidence
Hosting a high-profile forum boosts Uganda’s image as investor-friendly, helping attract diaspora capital and confidence from institutional financiers.

Challenges & Risks Ahead

Implementation gap: Past forums have seen lots of MOU signing but relatively fewer fully executed deals. Ensuring follow-through will require strong monitoring, transparency, and accountability.

Policy consistency: Investors often cite unpredictable regulation, weak enforcement, corruption, and red tape.

Equity & inclusion: Ensuring benefits reach smallholders, youth, women, and marginalized groups — not just elite firms.

Geopolitical dynamics & competition: Gulf states also have overlapping interests in Africa; Uganda must navigate relations with multiple partners (Saudi, Qatar, etc.).

Overreliance on export markets: Uganda must balance export orientation with domestic food security and resilience, to avoid vulnerabilities.