Uganda to join EAC states at Africa We Build Summit 2026 in Nairobi

_________________

Uganda is set to join fellow member states of the East African Community (EAC) at the upcoming Africa We Build Summit 2026 in Nairobi.

According to the press statement issued by Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the Africa We Build Summit targets mobilising domestic capital for Industrial transformation.

“The high-level forum expected to shape the region’s industrialisation agenda and unlock domestic capital for transformative infrastructure projects,” the statement reads.

The summit, scheduled for April 23–24 and hosted by the Africa Finance Corporation in partnership with the Government of Kenya, will convene top financiers, policymakers, and industry leaders from across the continent.

The gathering comes at a time when East Africa is positioning itself as one of Africa’s most dynamic hubs for regional integration, trade, and industrial growth.

Held under the theme “Infrastructure as the Engine of Industrialisation,” the forum will focus on shifting Africa’s development model from isolated projects to integrated infrastructure systems capable of driving productivity, boosting intra-African trade, and creating jobs.

For Uganda, participation in the summit highlighted its strategic interest in strengthening regional connectivity and leveraging shared infrastructure to support industrial expansion.

As a landlocked economy, Uganda relies heavily on efficient regional transport networks to access global markets, making ongoing investments in cross-border corridors critical.

“A central focus of the discussions will be the Northern Corridor, a key trade route linking the Port of Mombasa to Uganda, Rwanda, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan. The corridor serves as a vital lifeline for imports and exports, significantly influencing the cost of doing business and competitiveness of industries within the region,” the statement further reads.

According to AFC, many leaders and investors at the summit are expected to explore opportunities to upgrade key cross-border highways, streamline logistics systems, and accelerate rail development under a proposed East African Railway Master Plan. The initiative seeks to harmonise rail infrastructure across the bloc, reduce cargo transit times, and ease pressure on road transport.

Complementary transport routes connecting ports and coastal assets to inland markets will also be discussed, reflecting a broader ambition to create seamless, multimodal transport networks across East Africa.

Beyond transport infrastructure, the summit will examine the integration of energy systems and the development of strategic minerals value chains. Policymakers are increasingly advocating for value addition within the region, moving away from the export of raw materials towards processing and manufacturing that can generate higher returns and employment.

Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto is expected to deliver the keynote address, highlighting the importance of political commitment in advancing regional integration and large-scale infrastructure development.

A major theme of the forum will be the mobilisation of Africa’s domestic capital, which experts say remains largely untapped despite its potential to finance transformative projects.

Organisers argue that aligning capital with bankable projects is key to unlocking sustainable growth.

“Africa is not capital-poor; it is capital-trapped. The opportunity now is to channel that capital into infrastructure and industry at scale—transforming resources into productivity, jobs, and long-term prosperity,” said Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of AFC.

The summit will also feature the launch of the “State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2026,” expected to provide insights into investment gaps, capital flows, and priority project pipelines. The report is anticipated to guide both governments and investors in making informed decisions on infrastructure financing.

Organisers cite ongoing initiatives such as the Lobito Corridor and Kenya’s National Infrastructure Fund as examples of how coordinated policy frameworks, financing mechanisms, and project execution can deliver integrated economic ecosystems.

For Uganda and its regional partners, the Nairobi forum presents an opportunity to deepen collaboration, attract investment, and accelerate projects that enhance connectivity and industrial capacity.

As Africa seeks to turn its industrial ambitions into reality, the summit is expected to move beyond dialogue, serving as a platform for concrete partnerships and actionable investment decisions that could redefine the continent’s economic trajectory.