Conferences useful, partnerships vital
UK-Uganda trade is worth around £500 million annually, with more than £1.3 billion in UK-backed investments in Uganda and a further £1 billion in the pipeline, writes Lisa Chesney and Sanjay Rughani
British High Commissioner Lisa Chesney and British Chamber of Commerce Uganda Chairman Sanjay Rughani. (File)
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OPINION
By Lisa Chesney and Sanjay Rughani
We recently returned from the UK-Africa Investment Summit in London, where ministers, investors and business leaders came together to build new connections and discuss the enormous potential that lies ahead. The summit put a spotlight on capital mobilisation and deal execution across mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and agribusiness.
Attendance from His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa, peers from the House of Lords, business leaders and an impressive Ugandan delegation led by the Prime Minister reflects the growing momentum behind UK-Uganda economic opportunities.
From our different perspectives- government and private sector- the same messages came across loud and clear: Uganda is open for business, and the UK-Uganda partnership is entering an exciting new chapter.
The numbers tell part of the story. UK-Uganda trade is already worth around £500m a year. The UK is backing ambition with action — the investment portfolio in Uganda, through UK Export Finance, British International Investment and the Private Infrastructure Development Group, exceeds £1.3b, with a further £1b in the pipeline.
The British High Commission and the British Chamber of Commerce Uganda work as a team to strengthen the trade and investment relationship between UK and Uganda. We help British businesses understand opportunities in Uganda and support Ugandan companies to connect with investors and customers in the UK. Whether in Kettering or Kampala, driving growth needs government and business working hand in hand.
‘As British High Commissioner, making the case for investment in Uganda is an easy part of my job. Uganda is one of the fastest-growing economies in East Africa. It has a young and entrepreneurial population, strategic access to regional markets and a government focused on growth. For businesses looking at East Africa, Uganda is increasingly becoming a gateway to something much bigger.
As I often tell investors, the biggest risk in Uganda today is not investing. It is investing too late. I put energy into supporting growth not for the sole benefit of CEOs or captains of industry, but because when growth is done well, in the UK or Uganda, it is felt by everyone, wherever you live. But optimism alone does not create prosperity. Businesses grow when they find confidence.
That is where the Chamber’s role is vital.’
‘As Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce Uganda, I regularly hear from companies already investing and expanding here. They see huge potential, feel optimistic about Uganda’s future and are investing long term.
At the same time, they are clear about what helps investment flourish: predictable policies, fair competition, transparent systems, and regulations applied consistently. As a CEO myself, I know businesses can adapt to almost anything. Uncertainty is much harder to price.
What excites us both is not where the partnership stands today, but where it is heading. Across Uganda, we see examples of British and Ugandan businesses creating real impact first-hand. Our visits to Chamber members including Menzies Aviation, Uganda Breweries, HatHats Coffee, Intertek, Willis Towers Watson and Kua Solar demonstrated the breadth of the UK-Uganda relationship. Across sectors, these companies are creating jobs, developing skills and unlocking growth by building long-term commercial relationships.
The Chamber itself reflects this growing confidence. Established less than two years ago, it has already grown to more than 65 members across 19 sectors, representing over 25,000 jobs in Uganda. Increasingly, the Chamber is becoming a home not simply for British businesses in Uganda, but for Ugandan companies looking to partner internationally. The Chamber welcomes members into a dynamic commercial network connected to other chambers in Uganda and a global network of 74 British Chambers of Commerce across the globe.
That is why our message today is simple.
If you are a British company considering Uganda, come and see what is happening here.
If you are a Ugandan company looking for partners, investors or new markets, reach out.
And if you want to be part of one of the most vibrant business communities in the country, join the British Chamber of Commerce Uganda (bccuganda.org). The momentum is real. The opportunities are growing. We genuinely believe that the best chapters of the UK-Uganda growth story are still to be written.
The article is joint op-ed from the British High Commissioner to Uganda, H.E. Lisa Chesney and British Chamber of Commerce Uganda Chairman, Sanjay Rughani