Kampala Summit Strengthens Uganda–UAE Ties as Trade and Investment Surge
Kampala,Uganda
Kampala played host to the Fourth Uganda–UAE Business Forum this week, finishing on Wednesday 29.October.2025 with a raft of sectoral commitments, planned certification and infrastructure projects, and renewed pledges to scale bilateral trade and investment ties. The three-day summit drew government officials, Emirati investors, Ugandan private-sector leaders and development partners to intensive B2B meetings, sector panels and site visits aimed at turning dialogue into deals.
Big numbers, bigger ambition
Speakers at the forum highlighted dramatic growth in economic engagement between Uganda and the United Arab Emirates: bilateral trade was reported at roughly US$2.85 billion as of September 2025, while UAE direct investments in Uganda have climbed to the US$3.5 billion range — together amounting to more than US$6.3 billion in combined trade and investment ties referenced by government sources at the event. Organizers said these figures reflect expanding opportunities across agribusiness, energy, infrastructure, and financial services.
Key announcements and sector focus
Several concrete initiatives were announced or confirmed at the Forum:
National halal certification bureau — Uganda and UAE partners (with engagement from the Islamic Development Bank cited during forum sessions) signaled plans to fast-track a halal certification bureau to help Ugandan agriproducts meet Gulf market requirements and expand exports. Delegates argued the move will open higher-value markets for coffee, fish, horticulture and processed foods.
Waste-to-value and municipal partnerships — Kampala Capital City Authority used the platform to invite UAE investment in the Buyala waste-to-energy/waste-management facility as part of efforts to modernize urban services and create circular-economy opportunities. KCCA officials underscored these projects’ potential for local jobs and private returns.
Energy and refining interest — Private sector representatives and media reports referenced ongoing UAE investor interest in Uganda’s nascent energy and refinery projects, following earlier memoranda and project talks this year. While full financial close on major energy projects remains a work in progress, the forum provided an important matchmaking stage between sovereign-backed UAE investors and Ugandan counterparts.
Government-to-government and private sector engagement
Uganda’s diplomatic and trade officials — including Ambassador Zaake Wanume Kibedi and senior ministry representatives — framed the forum as both diplomatic momentum and pragmatic deal-making. Panels focused on trade facilitation, access to capital (Ugandan SMEs repeatedly flagged credit availability as a constraint), logistics and digital trade solutions to reduce export friction. UAE delegations included investors, financiers and chambers of commerce representatives emphasizing food security and value-chain partnerships.
Organizers reported hundreds of delegates took part in sectoral B2B meetings and arranged field visits to potential project sites, enabling investors to view projects first-hand and accelerating follow-up due-diligence. The Government of Uganda also highlighted existing and ready-to-sign agreements that pave the way for faster investment approvals in targeted sectors.
What this means for Uganda’s economy
Speakers said the forum advances Uganda’s Vision 2040 objective to broaden foreign direct investment and industrialize the economy. If the commitments mature into signed deals and project finance, Ugandan officials anticipate increases in agro-processing capacity, improvements to urban services, and new energy infrastructure that would support export competitiveness and job creation. Observers noted the importance of translating summit enthusiasm into bankable projects with clear timelines, local-content plans and financing structures.
Next steps and follow-up
Officials from both countries committed to establishing working groups to fast-track halal accreditation, structure public-private partnership models for municipal projects, and continue ministerial and embassy-level engagement to reduce regulatory bottlenecks. Private investors at the forum were urged to submit project proposals to relevant Ugandan ministries and to take part in planned due-diligence missions.
