Uganda has intensified efforts to expand its export markets following the launch of the Uganda Connect International Buyers’ Week (UCIBW) 2026, a flagship trade promotion platform designed to link Ugandan producers with verified international buyers and unlock new export opportunities.
The week-long event, organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), will be held from November 9 to 15, 2026, at the Speke Resort Convention Centre, Munyonyo, under the theme “Meet. Connect. Trade.”
The event will bring together verified international buyers, investors, trade representatives, exporters, development partners and government agencies for business-to-business meetings, investment roundtables, sector-specific deal rooms, factory visits, product demonstrations and tourism experiences aimed at securing export contracts and expanding Uganda’s global market presence.
PACEID is seeking to build on the success of the inaugural Buyers’ Week in 2025, which generated more than US$1.5 million in export contracts. This year’s edition targets at least 20 export transactions worth over US$3 million, alongside increased participation by international buyers and Ugandan exporters.
Speaking during the launch at Sheraton Kampala Hotel, PACEID chairman Odrek Rwabwogo said Uganda’s economic transformation depends on creating markets before increasing production.
“The prosperity of any nation begins with markets. Uganda Connect International Buyers’ Week is our deliberate strategy to bring verified international buyers to Uganda, allowing them to experience our products, meet our producers and build long-term commercial relationships. We are moving away from speculative trade towards demand that creates sustainable jobs, attracts investment and grows household incomes,” Rwabwogo said.
He said the initiative forms a key pillar of Uganda’s export-led industrialisation strategy, arguing that sustainable production can only be achieved when reliable markets exist.
Rwabwogo said PACEID has entered what he described as PACEID 2.0, shifting from its initial focus on market entry, export standards, infrastructure and financing to prioritising regional aggregation centres, data and analytics, and a deeper understanding of export value chains to strengthen Uganda’s competitiveness in international markets.
He challenged exporters to prioritise quality and compliance, saying international trade is driven by consistency and credibility rather than production volumes alone.
“It doesn’t matter how much we produce if we don’t meet market entry requirements. It’s like winking at a girl in the dark,” he said.
PACEID Head of Secretariat Matthew Bagonza described the Buyers’ Week as more than an exhibition, saying it is a strategic market access platform designed to connect Uganda’s producers directly with global demand.
He urged exporters, investors, development partners and private sector players to participate in the event and seize opportunities to expand Uganda’s export footprint.
PACEID Markets Director Brenda Katarikawe Opus said the platform enables businesses to build lasting commercial relationships with international buyers.
“Uganda Connect International Buyers’ Week is where production meets opportunity and where relationships are developed. Every buyer who comes to Uganda leaves as an ambassador,” she said.
PACEID also released its Half-Year Performance Report (January–June 2026), highlighting progress in market development, standards and compliance, export infrastructure, export financing, communications and strategic partnerships.
The report outlines priorities for the second half of the year, including accelerating market access, converting trade leads into export orders, strengthening Uganda Connect Trade Hubs and deepening partnerships aimed at positioning Uganda more competitively in international markets.
The committee also launched a nationwide exporter onboarding and buyer recruitment campaign. Between July and October, PACEID will roll out an exporter readiness programme to equip Ugandan businesses with skills in export compliance, branding, trade negotiations, buyer engagement and market-specific requirements ahead of the November event.
The launch comes at a time when Uganda’s export sector is recording its strongest performance in recent years. The country earned approximately US$13.4 billion (about Shs 48 trillion) from merchandise exports in 2025, with gold contributing US$6.4 billion, coffee US$2.46 billion, and cocoa beans US$632 million, alongside growing earnings from electricity and other manufactured and agricultural products. Trade data for the first half of 2026 show monthly export receipts exceeding US$1.3 billion to US$1.5 billion, largely driven by higher exports of gold and coffee, reflecting the country’s expanding export base and growing access to international markets.
Against this backdrop, the Uganda Connect International Buyers’ Week is expected to play a central role in expanding market access, attracting new buyers and investment, and increasing Uganda’s export earnings by creating direct commercial linkages between local producers and international markets.
