Uganda mulls direct flights to the Caribbean in trade boost

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Uganda and the Dominican Republic have announced plans to deepen trade, with a focus on agricultural products and the promotion of tourism.

As part of the agreement, the two countries will strengthen commercial diplomacy and explore direct air links between Africa and the Caribbean to boost trade, investment, and tourism.

Foreign affairs state minister John Mulimba confirmed the development on February 27, 2026, noting that modern diplomacy is increasingly focused on advancing national economic priorities rather than ceremonial engagements.

“Our fundamental interests are about promoting Uganda’s position abroad, improving exports, and expanding exchanges that grow the economy,” he said, emphasising the importance of commercial diplomacy in driving development.

Mulimba was speaking as he received the credentials of Allan Tayebwa, appointed as honorary consul of the Dominican Republic to Uganda.

According to figures from the Bank of Uganda, Uganda exported goods worth $352,000 (about sh1.2b) to the Dominican Republic in 2023. These primarily include coffee, tea, spices, and fish. On the other hand, imports from the country mainly consist of medical apparatus and pharmaceutical products.

During the event held at the Foreign Affairs ministry headquarters in Kampala, Mulimba highlighted growing engagement with Caribbean countries, but hastened that limited air connectivity remains a major barrier to trade and business exchanges. Currently, travellers to Caribbean countries must transit through the United States of America, Europe, or Canada.

To address this, discussions are underway with Ethiopian Airlines and Nigeria’s Air Peace to establish a direct route linking the regions.

Under the proposed plan, passengers would travel from Kampala to Addis Ababa before flying onward to the Caribbean, bypassing longer transit routes through France, including connections via Paris.

“I believe that once we have a direct route between Africa and the Caribbean, we will significantly improve business and trade between the two regions,” Mulimba said.

Strategic market focus

Mulimba urged Uganda’s diplomats and trade actors to adopt a focused approach when entering foreign markets, identifying specific opportunities rather than spreading efforts too broadly. 

He also pointed to product standards as a key barrier limiting access to international markets, emphasising that compliance with global requirements is essential for competitiveness.

Historically, according to World Bank figures, the Dominican Republic has imported tobacco from Uganda to support its world-famous cigar industry, which has been valued at over $120,000 in recent trade cycles.

In addition, the country imports significant amounts of edible oils, and Uganda’s sunflower and soybean oils present competitive alternatives to traditional suppliers.

The Dominican Republic is also a major importer of fertilisers, and Uganda’s growing fertiliser industry, leveraging domestic phosphates, offers promising long-term potential in this market.

According to sources, travel between Uganda and the Dominican Republic remains visa-free, strengthening people-to-people and business ties.

Speaking after presenting his credentials, Tayebwa encouraged Ugandans to explore investment opportunities in the Caribbean country, particularly in tourism and agriculture. 

He said the Caribbean island, located near Haiti and the Dominican Republic, relies heavily on tourism and agricultural production, including citrus fruits and bananas. Its proximity to major markets in North and South America makes it a popular destination for visitors from across the Americas.

“These are opportunities available to Ugandans,” Tayebwa said. 

“If you want to invest heavily in tourism, I invite Ugandans to come and invest in Dominica and earn strong returns.”

He added that tourism is a “low-hanging fruit” for deepening economic cooperation. 

Plans are also underway for a delegation from Dominica to visit Uganda to explore investment prospects, while a reciprocal Ugandan mission will assess opportunities on the island.