Uganda’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), H.E. Zaake Wanume Kibedi, has urged Ugandan business owners targeting the Gulf market to enhance their supply capabilities in terms of quality, quantity, and consistency.
He made the call on Friday during a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre on Friday ahead of the 4th Uganda-UAE Business Forum, scheduled for October 27–29 at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
Ambassador Kibedi credited Uganda’s business relationship with the UAE which he said continues to grow across sectors such as commercial agriculture, tourism, energy, and innovation.
“The major objective of this business forum is to strengthen bilateral partnerships in investment, trade, tourism, and innovation, while creating networking opportunities for business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs,” Ambassador Kibedi said.
The upcoming forum, co-organized by Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Uganda Embassy in Abu Dhabi, is expected to bring together stakeholders from both countries to discuss trade policies, showcase innovative products and services, and promote investment opportunities.
Ambassador Kibedi revealed that this year’s forum will focus on four thematic areas: Commercial agriculture, agro-industry, and agribusiness, Tourism development, Energy and infrastructure, including oil, gas, and renewable energy, Innovation, technology, trading, and manufacturing
The three-day event will feature field visits, high-level panel discussions, Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) meetings, and a recap session to outline resolutions and next steps.
Citing the growing diplomatic and economic cooperation between Uganda and the UAE, Kibedi noted an increase in connectivity, trade, and foreign direct investment (FDI). As of last month, six daily flights now operate between the two countries through Emirates, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, and Uganda Airlines.
In January 2025, President Yoweri Museveni visited the UAE, followed by a visit in May by UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which resulted in the signing of six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in areas such as investment protection, digital transformation, and capacity building.
As a result, Foreign direct investment (FDI) from the UAE surged more than tenfold over the last five years from USD 300 million in 2018 to USD 3.5 billion in 2024 making the UAE Uganda’s top source of FDI last year.
“Trade between Uganda and the UAE has increased tremendously. These forums provide a critical platform for identifying challenges, fostering partnerships, and shaping policy to support both large enterprises and start-ups,” Kibedi stated.
The Uganda-UAE Business Forum, which alternates between Kampala and Abu Dhabi, has become a cornerstone of bilateral economic cooperation. Past editions have laid the groundwork for several joint ventures and trade agreements that continue to shape Uganda’s growing economic footprint in the Middle East.
Partners for this year’s event include the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, Dubai Chambers, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Uganda’s Consulate in Dubai.
