Uganda-UAE pact to unlock agricultural trade potential

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Uganda is stepping onto the global agricultural stage, combining fertile soils with an ambitious vision to expand its footprint in international food markets.

In a landmark move that could redefine the country’s role in global supply chains, Uganda is forging strategic trade ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), positioning itself as a reliable source of fresh, organic and processed agricultural products for one of the world’s fastest growing consumer markets.

Last month, the Uganda Agribusiness Alliance (UAA) hosted a trade and investment delegation from the UAE, led by Dr Mohamed Ali Alhosani, the chairperson of FOODCO National Foodstuff PJSC and his deputy, Abdulrahman Senan.

The delegation engaged with farmers, processors and exporters to build partnerships, explore investment opportunities and secure long-term collaborations.

Ashah Nabbanja, the first secretary and chairperson of economic and commercial diplomacy at Uganda’s embassy in the United Arab Emirates, told the gathering that Uganda’s embassies play a vital role in opening international doors for entrepreneurs.

“Our mandate is to promote commercial and economic diplomacy by attracting investment into Uganda and creating sustainable markets for Ugandan products abroad. This delegation’s mission is to secure lasting opportunities for Ugandan farmers,” she emphasised.

FOODCO’S bold plans for Uganda

Uganda’s agricultural exports to the UAE exceed $50m annually, with projections to grow by 30% through this partnership.

The Government is supporting the initiative through favourable trade policies, infrastructure improvements and export incentives.

Farmers will benefit in terms of training in international standards, certification and packaging, in collaboration with agritech firms and non-governmental organisations. FOODCO believes that with the right infrastructure, Uganda can become a consistent supplier.

“Our mission is to explore what we can export. Uganda has excellent products, but shelf life is short; thus, we plan to build cold storage, freezing and dry storage facilities here so these products can reach global markets in good condition,” Ali Alhosani said.

The plan includes a cold storage complex near Entebbe International Airport valued at $50m with a capacity of 30,000–50,000 metric tonnes.

The facility would ensure that Ugandan avocados, pineapples, eggs, cocoa, mangoes, ginger and others arrive in Dubai and Abu Dhabi fresh.

The group is also exploring investments in Islamic banking, manpower supply and avocado oil processing with bulk exports to the UAE for bottling.

Given the UAE’s highly diverse population with hundreds of nationalities, consumer preferences differ widely. To meet these varying tastes, other potential products include vanilla, cinnamon, egg powder and poultry.

For Uganda, these opportunities mean more than foreign exchange; they mean new jobs, better incomes for farmers and rural transformation.

The UAE delegation assured Ugandans that this was only the beginning.

“This is the first meeting, but we will come again every month. We are not here to make promises; we are here to work together,” Senan said.

Dr Victoria Ssekitoleko, the chairperson of the Uganda Agribusiness Alliance, made a strong call to action, explaining that building solid domestic value chains is the first step toward linking effectively with international markets.

Ugandan farmers, according to Ssekitoleko, already possess the essential ingredients for success that is, fertile land, a favourable climate, and the necessary skills.

What remains is ensuring access to reliable markets and establishing systems that reward collective production. She stressed that the new partnership with the UAE demonstrates how collaboration from the farm level to the export stage can open global opportunities.

Farmers ready to seize the opportunity

Martin Roy Lukwago, the chairperson of the commercial layer farmers association, spoke about Uganda’s egg industry: “As a country, we can produce 1.8 million trays of eggs per day, about 12.5 million per week. We are already meeting regional demand, and we are confident we can meet UAE demand too.”

Dr Julian Omalla, the chairperson of the Nwoya Fruit Growers Cooperative, reflected on the growth of her community’s farming journey.

She explained that what began as small-scale production has expanded into commercial orchards of mangoes, citrus fruits and guavas. To her, the partnership with the UAE is the long-awaited opportunity farmers need.

She emphasised that access to this market will boost incomes, create jobs, expand orchards, and transform lives through education and community development.

Opportunities and challenges

The FOODCO delegation highlighted several challenges that Ugandan exporters face. Transport is a major cost driver, with most goods routed through Mombasa or Dar es Salaam. For perishable produce, air freight is the fastest option, but also the most expensive.

Consequently, many farmers are turning to dried products like mango, cocoa powder, and ginger, whose quality is maintained regardless of how long they take in transit.

Packaging and branding also present hurdles. FOODCO is committed to collaborating with Ugandan producers to improve branding and packaging for competitiveness.

Certification was another critical issue. Strict organic certification is mandatory in the UAE, and farmers who meet these requirements can access premium markets and high returns on their produce.

Meanwhile, other potential challenges that include logistics and market fluctuations are being addressed through strategic planning, capacity building and resilient supply chain management.