The Uganda-EU Business Forum (UEUBF) was organized by the EU together with its Member States, in partnership with the Government of Uganda (GoU) and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) under the Sustainable Business for Uganda (SB4U) Team Europe Initiative. The UEUBF has been one of the largest business meetings in Uganda, designed to mobilize investments into Uganda and strengthen Ugandan exports, contributing to the partnership between Uganda and the EU.
Through networking, participants learned about policy orientations, identified trade and investment opportunities, discussed challenges, developed business strategies, and established durable business partnerships to promote sustainable and inclusive growth in Uganda. Over its last two editions, UEUBF brought together policymakers, local entrepreneurs, international investors, business support organizations, financiers, industry experts, academics, and civil society.
From March 5th to 7th, 2024, the EU Delegation to Uganda, in collaboration with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), and the Government of Uganda, successfully hosted the third Uganda – EU Business Forum in Kampala. Under the theme "Boosting Trade and Investments: What Can Uganda Gain from the Global Gateway?" The Forum attracted a record number of participants, including 1500 on-site, 500 online and 3700 registrations. 193 European companies were represented, confirming the strong interest from EU businesses to invest more in the country.
The forum operated in a hybrid format, serving as a crucial platform for engaging top-tier decision-makers and private-sector stakeholders focused on Uganda's priority economic sectors. The primary goal of UEUBF-2024 was to enhance trade and investment in key areas that present substantial opportunities for European investors, igniting the potential for them to forge meaningful partnerships with Ugandan entrepreneurs.
The main objective of the EU was to escalate EU investments in Uganda and foster increased trade. Throughout the event, the EU emphasised the central theme of "Boosting Trade & Investment" while spotlighting the opportunities presented by implementing the Global Gateway strategy. The Government of Uganda and local businesses highlighted the many attributes that position Uganda as an attractive investment destination, emphasised the untapped potential within Uganda’s economic development plans aligned with the Global Gateway strategy, identified existing gaps in financing and technical assistance, and invited the EU to consider these as prime areas for investment, trade, and financing initiatives.
The UEUBF 2024 exemplified the spirit of Team Europe. The EU Delegation coordinated contributions and participation from various EU Member States. The third edition saw embassies energetically promoting the forum and organising missions aligned with the event, significantly boosting European participant turnout. Team Europe's presence included representatives from 12 member states and 8 EU financial institutions. High-level attendees included EU Ambassadors and embassy representatives. Notably, Myriam Ferran, the EU Deputy Director General for International Partnerships, delivered a compelling statement and participated actively in multiple sessions.