Uganda is seeking to expand its commercial and diplomatic footprint in Nigeria as it looks to strengthen access to the wider West African market and create new opportunities for Ugandan businesses.
The strategy will take centre stage at the Uganda-Nigeria Business Forum and Exhibition 2026, scheduled for September 9–10 at Mestil Hotel & Residences in Kampala.
The two-day forum will bring together more than 20 Nigerian companies, Ugandan businesses, investors and policymakers to explore investment partnerships, joint ventures, market access and cross-border trade opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Organised by the Uganda High Commission in Abuja in partnership with the governments of Uganda and Nigeria, the forum is intended to translate the longstanding diplomatic relationship between the two countries into stronger private-sector partnerships and increased commercial activity.
Dr Sam Omara of the Uganda High Commission in Abuja said the forum would provide businesses from both countries with an opportunity to engage directly, identify areas of mutual interest and address practical barriers affecting trade and investment.
“This forum represents a significant milestone in our diplomatic and economic relations with Nigeria. We are committed to creating an enabling environment for our private sectors to thrive, and this event is designed to directly connect businesses, resolve trade barriers, and unlock the vast potential that exists between East and West Africa,” Omara said.
He added that the Nigerian delegation would include companies and investors with interests spanning cement manufacturing, fertiliser and urea production, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, financial services, digital payments, ICT and technology, agro-machinery, palm oil, farm management, real estate, manufacturing and industrial research.
Agriculture and agro-processing are expected to feature prominently, with businesses exploring opportunities in livestock, agricultural value addition, farm management, palm oil and other areas of the agricultural value chain.
The engagement is also expected to create opportunities for Nigerian investment in Uganda’s productive sectors while enabling Ugandan businesses to access Nigeria’s large consumer market.
For Uganda, Nigeria presents an important gateway to West Africa, while Nigerian companies can leverage Uganda’s strategic location to access East African markets and regional value chains.
Stephen Asiimwe, Chief Executive Officer of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, said Uganda’s longstanding relationship with Nigeria, strong political ties and improving air connectivity provide a solid foundation for increased business engagement.
He said Nigeria’s large consumer market offers significant opportunities for Ugandan exporters, particularly in food, tourism, textiles, fashion and the creative economy. He also noted that direct air connectivity through Uganda Airlines is helping to facilitate business and tourism links between the two countries.
“We look forward to discussing business with the Nigerian government and private sector, accelerating business matchmaking and opening markets for Uganda’s creative sector, including textiles, fashion and entertainment,” Asiimwe said.
He said Uganda could also position itself as a gateway for Nigerian businesses seeking to expand into East Africa, with improved transport and logistics infrastructure supporting the movement of people, goods and services.
Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to Uganda, Misitura Abdulraheem, said the two countries have considerable economic potential that can be unlocked through stronger private-sector engagement.
She said the forum would deepen bilateral engagement under AfCFTA while creating meaningful opportunities for businesses in both countries to establish partnerships, expand markets and invest across borders.
Ambassador Richard Kabonero, representing the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Uganda is seeking to expand its commercial and diplomatic footprint in Nigeria while strengthening connections with the wider West African market.
He said the expansion of Uganda Airlines’ operations could further support trade and tourism links, including opportunities to connect Uganda with other major West African markets such as Ghana.
Kabonero also highlighted opportunities for collaboration between Uganda’s and Nigeria’s creative industries, saying partnerships in the sector could help accelerate the growth of Uganda’s creative economy.
The forum will feature business-to-business matchmaking, investment showcases, business pitches, sector discussions, an interactive town hall and a business exhibition designed to connect companies with potential investors, customers and partners.
A Uganda Hub will showcase investment and trade opportunities, while a Fintech Alley will highlight digital payment solutions, financial technology and innovation. Government agencies and private-sector institutions will also engage businesses on regulatory frameworks, investment facilitation and trade policies.
A key focus will be addressing practical constraints affecting cross-border trade, including product registration, standards compliance, market-entry requirements and visa reciprocity. Organisers say resolving these non-tariff barriers will be critical to converting AfCFTA’s market-access opportunities into actual business transactions.
The forum builds on previous Uganda-Nigeria business engagements, including the fourth Nigeria-Uganda Trade and Business Forum held in Abuja in September 2024, which coincided with the launch of Uganda Airlines’ direct flights to Abuja.
The direct air connection has strengthened business and tourism links between the two markets, while subsequent engagements have renewed efforts to establish a more functional Uganda-Nigeria trade and investment corridor.
Despite the size of the two economies, bilateral trade remains below its potential. Available trade data shows that Uganda exported goods worth approximately US$2.09 million to Nigeria in 2021, while imports from Nigeria stood at about US$814,380.
Uganda’s pharmaceutical sector has emerged as one area with demonstrated potential, with exports by Quality Chemical Industries Limited (Qcil) providing an example of how Ugandan manufacturers can penetrate the Nigerian market.
The forum will seek to identify additional products and services with export potential, particularly in agro-processing and value addition, including coffee, dairy, textiles and apparel, fruits and other export-oriented industries.
Tourism is also expected to be a key area of opportunity, with organisers targeting increased visitor flows from Nigeria and stronger partnerships between tourism operators in the two countries.
The Nigerian delegation will undertake business and tourism field visits following the forum to explore Uganda’s investment proposition, tourism assets and productive sectors.
The organisers expect the engagement to generate a roadmap for sustained commercial cooperation, increased investor interest in Uganda’s agro-business sector, stronger business-to-business linkages and potential letters of intent, investment commitments and strategic partnerships.
As African businesses increasingly look beyond national borders to leverage opportunities created by AfCFTA, Uganda is seeking to use its relationship with Nigeria to build a stronger commercial bridge between East and West Africa.
The Kampala forum is expected to provide a platform for turning that ambition into concrete trade, investment and business opportunities.
