AfCFTA Set to Improve Trade Growth and Investment in Uganda

The government of Uganda wants to boost regional trade and economic growth. Together with the African Continental Free Trade Area, it is looking for new investment opportunities in the country. In the first half of February 2025, the AfCFTA team was present in Uganda in order to discuss investment prospects, as well as financing.

The Uganda Development Corporation, which was re-established in 2016 as the investment branch of the government, will play an essential role in finding, nurturing, and putting strategic investment projects into action. The UDC is crucial for developing the economy and industry. While talking to AfCFTA, a few resolutions were adopted in order to speed up the economic potential of Uganda. The UDC came up with 10 investment projects that were advanced to establish an AfCFTA implementation unit in the country. This would eventually make investment and trade opportunities easier to develop.

Efforts to Boost the Industry and Attract Investment

Gilbert Antonio, a Senior Advisor at AfCFTA, spoke about the importance of helping Uganda to implement the AfCFTA framework. This would lead to a boost in industrialization and bring in more investments. Mwevesa Francis, The Minister of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives in Uganda, declared that the government is dedicated to ensuring business growth is on the rise. He also mentioned that the investment projects will benefit the country and its continental trade agreement.

Through AfCFTA, Uganda is going to reach its true potential and become a critical part of the local trade and investment system. This can not only improve industrialization but also lead to fresh economic prospects and help develop different sectors.

Nigeria Will Get the First Shipment from Uganda Through AfCFTA

The African Continental Free Trade Area agreement already shows some promising results in Uganda. The country is about to send its first shipment to Nigeria in the first quarter of 2025. This shipment includes tea, coffee,milk, pharmaceuticals, and fish, and it’s meant to test the market. Simultaneously, it will establish better trade relations between the two states.

Uganda is the second-largest producer of coffee in Africa. 17% of the country’s exports consist of coffee. It also has rivers and lakes filled with fish, so it exports about 50,000 tons of fish and fish products. At the same time, it produces at least 80,000 tons of tea every year. Now, Uganda will send its first formal export to the West African area under AfCFTA.

“As Africa awakens to its economic potential, it becomes evident that domestic markets alone are not sufficient. Expanding trade across the continent is essential for sustainable growth,” says Yoweri Museveni, Uganda’s president, who was present at the agreement signing in December 2024.

Uganda’s Minister of Trade, Francis Mwebesa, believes that free zones will be magnets for investment while creating more jobs. Also, Ani Bassey-Eyo is looking to help expand to different AfCFTA member states. With more opportunities, Uganda’s industry will thrive in the future and create new markets for local businesses.