Entebbe, Uganda | A high-profile delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has arrived in Uganda ahead of the Fourth Uganda–UAE Business Forum, set to run from October 27 to 29, 2025, at Speke Resort Munyonyo.
The delegation was officially welcomed at Entebbe by Second Secretary Asha Nabbanja, representing Ambassador Zaake Wanume Kibedi, Uganda’s envoy to the UAE, alongside officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Protocol Directorate.
Their arrival marks the start of a three-day program of sector-focused Rappor Tours, designed to showcase Uganda’s most promising investment sectors, including tourism, energy, oil and gas, minerals, infrastructure, innovation and technology, real estate, agro-industry, and commercial agriculture.
“We are delighted to welcome our friends and partners from the UAE,” Ambassador Kibedi said. “These sector tours provide investors with a first-hand view of Uganda’s economic potential and readiness to host world-class ventures.”
The tours are part of Uganda’s broader effort to align foreign investment with Vision 2040, aimed at positioning the country as a competitive investment destination and regional trade hub. Officials confirmed that the Emirati delegation will visit major industrial, agricultural, and infrastructural projects to explore potential partnerships and joint ventures with Ugandan enterprises. The visits are being coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), and relevant sector ministries.
Ambassador Kibedi emphasized that the tours serve as a bridge between policy and practice, allowing investors direct access to the people and projects driving Uganda’s economic transformation. “This year’s forum is not just about speeches,” he noted. “It’s about seeing opportunities on the ground from modern farms and energy facilities to real estate and innovation hubs.”
Uganda–UAE relations have grown into one of Africa’s most dynamic bilateral partnerships. Trade between the two nations reached US$2.85 billion by September 2025, while UAE Foreign Direct Investment in Uganda surged from US$300 million in 2018 to US$3.5 billion in 2024, according to the Uganda Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Kibedi attributed this growth to sustained diplomatic engagement, improved connectivity including six daily flights between Uganda and the UAE and growing trust between business communities on both sides.
The Uganda–UAE Business Forum will feature panel discussions, sector presentations, and B2B and G2G meetings between Ugandan government agencies and Emirati investors. Sessions will focus on trade facilitation, innovation partnerships, and investment incentives under Uganda’s reform agenda. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja is expected to deliver the keynote address at the official opening, reaffirming Uganda’s commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and boosting investor confidence. Other participating institutions include the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, and Uganda Investment Authority (UIA).
“The Uganda–UAE partnership exemplifies a robust and evolving relationship built on mutual respect, strategic investment, and shared prosperity,” Ambassador Kibedi said. “We look forward to seeing more projects take shape as a result of this collaboration.”