Uganda and the United Arab Emirates are preparing for another major push to expand trade and investment, with the fifth edition of the UAE-Uganda Business Forum scheduled for October 26 to 29, 2026, across four Emirati cities. The forum will be held in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah as Uganda seeks to convert the rapid growth in bilateral trade and investment into concrete business deals, partnerships and jobs.
Uganda’s Ambassador to the UAE, Kibedi Zaake Wamala, said the forum is intended to move economic relations beyond diplomatic engagements and toward measurable commercial outcomes. “The success of this Forum will ultimately be measured not only by the number of meetings held, but by the contracts signed, investments secured, exports generated, partnerships established and jobs created,” Kibedi said.
The forum comes as economic relations between Uganda and the UAE continue to expand rapidly. Bilateral trade reached US$4.7 billion in 2025, up from US$2.7 billion in 2024 and approximately US$600 million in 2018. UAE foreign direct investment into Uganda has also increased from about US$300 million in 2018 to an estimated US$3.5 billion in 2025.
Kibedi said the growth has encouraged Uganda to adopt a more practical approach to economic diplomacy, including identifying investment opportunities, gathering market intelligence, connecting businesses and helping Ugandan companies access international markets. The four-day forum will bring together government officials, investors, business leaders, bankers and representatives of chambers of commerce from Uganda and the UAE.
Key sectors expected to feature prominently include agriculture and agro-processing, trade and exports, mining and minerals, tourism, infrastructure and energy, logistics and air cargo, manufacturing, financial services and technology. Kibedi said the forum will provide Ugandan companies with direct access to potential UAE investors, buyers and strategic partners while showcasing Uganda as a competitive investment and business destination.
The deepening economic relationship is also reflected in the growing Ugandan community in the UAE. The Ugandan diaspora in the country is now estimated at more than 150,000 people, compared with about 50,000 in 2018. The ambassador said the growing community presents another important dimension to the relationship between the two countries.
He urged Ugandan businesses, exporters, investors, financial institutions and government agencies to take advantage of the forum and engage with opportunities available in the UAE and the wider Gulf region. Kibedi said Uganda-UAE relations have expanded beyond traditional diplomatic ties to encompass trade, investment, tourism, infrastructure, logistics, agriculture and energy.
“We believe that the 5th Edition of the Business Forum will further elevate these relations from cooperation to greater trade, investment and shared prosperity,” he said. He also called on the media and other stakeholders to promote Uganda’s investment potential, export capacity and business opportunities among prospective partners in the UAE-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
