More than 150 business leaders, investors, policymakers and private-sector players from 10 countries have converged in Kampala for the 2026 Uganda Trade and Investment Roadshow, as Uganda seeks to attract more investment, expand exports and strengthen its participation in regional and international trade.

The roadshow, organised by Equity Group, is bringing businesses from across Africa and beyond together with Ugandan enterprises and policymakers to explore investment and trade opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, technology and the coffee value chain.

The Uganda leg of the mission was officially opened at Marriott Hotel Kampala on Monday, with government urging investors and financial institutions to focus on value addition and the development of local enterprises.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Sanjay Tanna said Uganda's youthful population, natural resources, strategic location and access to growing regional markets provide a strong foundation for economic growth.

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However, he said the country must move beyond exporting raw materials if it is to create more jobs, increase household incomes and build competitive industries.

He identified agro-processing, minerals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, leather, construction materials and ICT as some of the sectors offering significant opportunities for investment and value addition.

"We are here to celebrate Equity and the role it has played in transforming the way banking is done," Tanna said.

He urged Equity Bank to replicate in Uganda the grassroots approach it used to support micro-enterprises in Kenya, particularly by strengthening businesses in rural areas.

"Equity Bank built its foundation by lifting micro-enterprises in Kenya; we invite them to replicate that same grassroots model in rural Uganda to build the capacity of our local traders," he added.

Tanna challenged financial institutions to go beyond lending by helping micro, small and medium enterprises improve financial literacy, bookkeeping, access to finance and access to markets.

He said government was prepared to work with financial institutions and the private sector to address investment barriers, reduce the cost of capital and create an environment in which businesses can expand and generate employment.

Connecting capital to opportunity

Equity Bank Uganda Executive Director Claver Serumaga said Uganda's challenge is not a shortage of opportunities but the need to connect those opportunities to the resources required to develop them.

"Uganda does not lack opportunity; what we need is to connect that opportunity to the right capital, markets, technology and partnerships," Serumaga said.

He said Equity's role extends beyond traditional banking to connecting businesses with markets, technology, capital and strategic partners.

According to Serumaga, the roadshow is intended to turn business conversations into tangible partnerships, transactions and investments, with particular attention to agriculture, coffee, manufacturing and technology.

The initiative also includes a Uganda Coffee Value Chain Roundtable, bringing together major international coffee industry players, including Neumann Kaffee Gruppe and Volcafe, alongside Ugandan businesses and other actors in the value chain.

The engagement is expected to provide an opportunity for participants to examine opportunities and challenges across Uganda's coffee value chain and explore potential commercial partnerships.

Delegates will also visit selected businesses and productive-sector enterprises, including Zigoti Coffee Farm, JNL Industries and Roofings Uganda Limited, to gain first-hand insight into Uganda's investment and production environment.

Moving from networking to deals

Equity Group Associate Director of Trade Relations Mahvish Malik said the Group's trade missions are designed to take businesses beyond conversations about markets and create direct engagement between potential partners.

She said Equity uses targeted engagements with businesses and government, sector visits and market linkages to facilitate investment, sourcing opportunities, partnerships and access to new markets.

The Kampala business forum also featured a panel discussion focusing on Uganda's investment opportunities, trade policies and the wider business environment.

The panel brought together Georgina Mugerwa, Assistant Commissioner for Multilateral Trade; Dr Cosmas Mwikirize, Head of Industrial Value Chains Innovation; and Ronnie Mulongo, a private-sector founder, senior leader and project director.

The Uganda leg of the roadshow will run until September 16, after which delegates will travel to Kigali, Rwanda, for the next phase of the programme.

The mission forms part of Equity Group's wider efforts to promote intra-African trade, regional integration and investment by connecting businesses and investors to financing, technology, markets and commercial networks across the continent.

For Uganda, the roadshow comes at a time when the country is seeking to deepen value addition, strengthen local enterprises and position its productive sectors to benefit more from regional and international markets.