The inaugural Uganda Tourism, Coffee and Tea Expo has opened at the Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski in Cairo, marking a major push to deepen Uganda’s export footprint and promote Destination Uganda in one of Africa’s largest consumer markets.
The two-day event, organised by the Uganda Embassy in Cairo in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), aims to position Uganda as a top tourism and agribusiness partner for Egypt.
With a population exceeding 110 million and a high consumption rate of coffee and tea, Egypt has been identified as a prime market for Ugandan products. It is also emerging as an important source of high-end tourists seeking exotic, nature-based travel experiences.
During the opening ceremony, Amb. Lt. Gen. Charles Angina, Charge d’Affaires of Uganda’s Embassy in Cairo, delivered a compelling presentation showcasing Uganda’s natural beauty, rich culture, wildlife, and its potential as a preferred destination for tourists and investors alike.
The expo attracted hundreds of participants, including Egyptian government officials, diplomats, business leaders, tour operators and exporters from both countries. The strong turnout underscored growing commercial interest between Uganda and Egypt.
Dr. Yousrey Elsekawi, Chairperson of the Egypt Africa Business Association (EABA), applauded the strengthening cooperation between the two nations and urged Egyptian businesses to seize emerging opportunities in Uganda. Mr. Mostafa El Gendy, Senior Presidential Advisor on Investment, also praised Uganda’s welcoming investment climate.
Amb. Angina said Uganda is keen to translate strong diplomatic ties with Egypt into meaningful economic gains. “Good relations must translate into tangible outputs manifested in increased volumes of trade and investment in critical areas,” he said.
Throughout the expo, Ugandan exporters will engage in business-to-business meetings with Egyptian buyers to secure partnerships and expand the market for Ugandan coffee, tea and other agricultural products.
In 2023, bilateral trade between Uganda and Egypt totalled US$141 million. Uganda exported goods worth US$32 million—mainly coffee, tea, dairy, spices and raw tobacco—while importing US$109 million worth of iron and steel, plastics, sugar, cereals and pharmaceutical products. Uganda’s exports to Egypt have grown at an average of 25 percent annually since 2018.
Diplomatic cooperation between the two countries has strengthened following President Yoweri Museveni’s working visit to Cairo in August 2025, during which he and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi oversaw the signing of agreements spanning agro-processing, manufacturing, mining, energy and pharmaceuticals.
Amb. Angina noted that Egypt presents enormous potential for Uganda’s tourism offerings, especially as Egyptian tourists continue to seek new and authentic travel experiences beyond their traditional destinations. Uganda received 1.5 million tourists in 2024, compared to Egypt’s 16 million.
Mr. Allan Tazenya, Counselor and Commercial Officer at the Embassy, described Egypt as a strategic gateway to Europe and the Middle East. He announced that the expo will become an annual fixture in Cairo and other Egyptian cities to maintain visibility for Destination Uganda.
The Embassy in Cairo is one of Uganda’s Missions implementing the Economic and Commercial Diplomacy (ECD) Strategy—a key pillar of the government’s Tenfold Growth Strategy, which aims to grow the economy from US$50 billion to US$500 billion by 2040. Through ECD, Missions promote trade, attract foreign direct investment and support technology transfer.
The Expo is expected to unlock new opportunities for Ugandan exporters and strengthen cooperation in tourism, trade and investment between the two countries.
