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Uganda's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives has opened registration for the National Trade Review Conference (TRC) 2026.
The conference is a high-level forum aimed at aligning Uganda’s trade strategy with its ambition to grow the economy from about $50 billion to $500 billion by 2040.
Held under the theme: Trade-Driven Transformation: Propelling Uganda to a $500b Economy by 2040, the conference will take place on March 4–5, 2026, at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.
According to a statement issued on February 20, 2026, by ministry communications officer Khadija B. Nakakande, the conference will serve as a national, evidence-based and multi-stakeholder platform to generate actionable trade policy and strategy recommendations.
The discussions will support Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy, anchored on the ATMS model Agro-industrialisation, Tourism Development, Mineral Development, and Science, Technology and Innovation.
The ministry expects between 250 and 350 participants, including representatives from government ministries, departments and agencies, and private sector leaders. Others are: micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), co-operatives, civil society, academia, development partners, regional trade bodies and the media.
The conference will take stock of Uganda’s trade performance and assess the country’s readiness to leverage the tenfold growth strategy. It will also produce a time-bound national communiqué and implementation matrix to guide follow-up actions.
Revised national trade policy
A key highlight will be the launch of the revised National Trade Policy, the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS), the National Trade Policy Development and Implementation Plan, and an online reporting platform.
These instruments are expected to guide regulatory reforms, boost export promotion, strengthen services trade competitiveness, support minerals-based industrialisation, scale up agro-industrial value chains, and promote cooperative-led trade expansion, quality standards and compliance.
Anna Nambooze, the country director of TradeMark Africa, said the organisation’s support reflects its commitment to enabling trade through practical reforms that reduce the cost of doing business, improve border efficiency, strengthen standards and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) compliance, and enhance value-chain competitiveness while promoting inclusion of women and youth.
“Nearly two decades after the current Trade Policy was adopted, the Conference provides a timely platform to unveil Uganda’s revised National Trade Policy and National Export Development Strategy”.
“By strengthening co-ordination across trade institutions and stakeholders, the Conference will help align priorities, accelerate reform implementation, and reinforce trade as a key driver of Uganda’s tenfold growth ambition,” Nambooze said.
The conference is supported by UK International Development and TradeMark Africa. The ministry has called on businesses in manufacturing, agro-processing, ICT and digital trade, logistics, financial services, minerals, high-value manufacturing, cooperative enterprises and services sectors to register.
Exhibitor registration has opened, offering companies an opportunity to showcase innovations, build partnerships, engage policymakers and position themselves within Uganda’s evolving trade and industrial policy landscape. Exhibition space is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
The ministry said the conference is expected to strengthen stakeholder coordination, generate practical reform commitments, raise media awareness of Uganda’s trade policy direction, and accelerate implementation of strategies aimed at driving export growth, value addition, structural transformation and inclusive economic development.