Minister Tanna urges investors to tap Uganda’s conducive investment climate
“Uganda offers a conducive environment for investors who are prepared to identify opportunities and create value. I urge businesses to take a long-term view of the Ugandan market,” Tanna noted.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Sanjay Tanna and Equity Bank Executive Director, Claver Serumaga (middle), along with delegates at Equity Bank Trade and Investment Roadshow 2026. (Courtesy photo)
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Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Sanjay Tanna has urged investors to take advantage of Uganda’s increasingly conducive investment environment, saying the country offers significant opportunities for businesses seeking to expand their footprint in East Africa.
Tanna made the call on Monday during the Equity Bank’s Uganda Trade and Investment Roadshow 2026, held at the Marriott Hotel Kampala, which brought together Kenyan and Ugandan businesses to explore opportunities in trade, investment and cross-border partnerships.
The minister encouraged investors to look beyond Uganda’s traditional sectors and consider opportunities emerging from the country’s drive towards industrialisation, value addition and regional integration.
“Uganda offers a conducive environment for investors who are prepared to identify opportunities and create value. I urge businesses to take a long-term view of the Ugandan market,” Tanna noted.
Equity Bank’s Executive Director, Claver Serumaga, highlighted why bringing businesses, policymakers, investors, technology providers and markets together is critical to turning connections into real commercial opportunities.
“From agriculture and manufacturing to innovation, the opportunity is to move beyond primary production and create more value through processing, packaging, branding, technology, commercialization and access to international markets.
Coffee is a clear example. The opportunity is not only in producing coffee, but in capturing more value and connecting Ugandan businesses to higher value markets,” Serumaga said.
The roadshow comes at a time when Uganda is seeking to attract more private capital into productive sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, agro-processing, tourism, energy, minerals, technology and infrastructure.
Investment opportunities
Uganda's investment proposition is increasingly linked to its ambition to transform from an economy largely dependent on primary production into one driven by value addition and industrial activity.
Kenyan businesses eye Uganda
The roadshow provided a platform for businesses from Kenya and Uganda to explore partnerships that could deepen commercial ties between the two countries.
Kenyan firms have increasingly expanded across East Africa, with Uganda remaining an important market because of its proximity, growing consumer base and position as a gateway to markets in the Great Lakes region.
For Ugandan businesses, partnerships with Kenyan companies can provide access to capital, technology, expertise and established distribution networks.
Equity Bank's role in convening the business community also highlights the importance of financial institutions in facilitating cross-border investment.
Beyond providing financing, banks can help businesses navigate regional markets by supporting payments, trade finance, investment and working-capital requirements