The United Kingdom and Uganda have reaffirmed their longstanding partnership, with sport emerging as a key area of cooperation as the country prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The partnership was highlighted during the British High Commission’s annual King’s Birthday Party, held on November 12 at the British High Commissioner’s Residence in Kampala. The event brought together government officials, diplomats, business leaders, civil society representatives, sporting personalities and friends of the United Kingdom.
The celebration recognised Uganda’s sporting achievements and explored how sport can strengthen diplomatic relations, promote youth development and create opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.
Uganda is also preparing to make its debut at the Invictus Games in Birmingham in 2027 after becoming the 26th nation to join the Invictus Community. The initiative provides wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans with opportunities to use sport to support recovery, build resilience and facilitate reintegration.
The event showcased several sporting disciplines, including football, golf, rugby, netball and para-sports, while highlighting programmes through which UK-Uganda cooperation is expanding access to sport.
Through the Premier Skills programme, the British Council and the English Premier League have trained more than 2,200 Ugandan coaches, referees and educators, who have collectively reached over 25,000 young people.
Speaking at the event, Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda Jacob Marksons Oboth said sport provides an important platform for bringing people together and strengthening relations between countries.
“As we look towards 2027, Uganda’s co-hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations presents an exciting opportunity. We invite British nationals to experience our beautiful country, our wonderful weather, our hospitality and our people. AFCON presents opportunities for tourism, investment, infrastructure development and youth empowerment. More importantly, it will bring our people closer and create new avenues for cooperation,” he said.
Beyond sport, the celebration highlighted the wider economic, educational, healthcare and environmental ties between Uganda and the United Kingdom.
UK Export Finance has a portfolio of approximately £1 billion in Uganda, with a further £1 billion in the pipeline, reflecting the scale of British-backed financing and investment opportunities in the country.
The education partnership has also benefited thousands of Ugandans through Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships, alongside defence training opportunities in the UK.
In healthcare, the two countries have maintained a longstanding research partnership, including 35 years of collaboration between the UK’s Medical Research Council and the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe. Approximately 1,000 Ugandan nurses are also working in the UK’s National Health Service.
The UK is further supporting efforts to conserve Uganda’s natural habitats, which underpin a tourism sector that supports more than 600,000 jobs.
British High Commissioner to Uganda Lisa Chesney said the annual celebration provided an opportunity to reflect on the longstanding relationship between the two countries and the importance of continued cooperation.
Drawing on the theme of sport, she compared international relations to teamwork, emphasising the importance of mutual respect, honest dialogue and shared objectives.
“Partnership is not about one player keeping possession; it’s about knowing when to pass and working towards a shared goal. Partnership is an honest friendship. Teammates don’t always agree, and neither do countries. Britain and Uganda will not always see every issue the same way. Good friends and teammates seldom do. But partners disagree honestly and respectfully, listen and work together. And I feel lucky that we have this in our UK-Ugandan partnership,” she said.
