Bridging East Africa and the Gulf: Uganda and UAE Forge a New Era of Partnership

By Dr. Kivumbi Earnest Benjamin, L.H.D. (Hon.) & Faith Barbara N Ruhinda – Updated at 2347 EAT on Wednesday 12th November 2025 Kampala, Uganda – November 12, 2025

Ambassador Rosa Malango leads the call for sustainable collaboration at the UAE–East Africa Trade & Investment Forum 2025

Summary

The UAE–East Africa Trade & Investment Forum 2025 convened in Kampala, uniting government officials, investors, and private-sector leaders from across the Gulf and East Africa. Ambassador Rosa Malango, Uganda’s Special Presidential Envoy for Tourism and Trade, delivered a powerful keynote emphasizing shared prosperity, while Trade Minister Gen. Wilson Mbadi hailed the UAE’s confidence in Uganda’s resilient economy.

The atmosphere in Kampala was one of optimism and mutual purpose as Uganda hosted the UAE–East Africa Trade and Investment Forum 2025, a milestone gathering focused on unlocking new economic and tourism partnerships between the Gulf and East Africa. Courtesy photos

The event drew an influential delegation from the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and its affiliate, the Sharjah Exports Development Centre (SEDC), alongside Uganda’s public and private sector leaders.

“Your presence today affirms a shared vision: fostering new partnerships and driving the future together,”

— Ambassador Rosa Malango, Special Presidential Envoy for Tourism and Trade.

Uganda Commends UAE Confidence in Its Economy

Gen. Wilson Mbadi, Uganda’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, praised the UAE for its growing investments in Uganda, commending the partnership for coming at a time when the Uganda Shilling is ranked the strongest currency in Africa.

“Our partnership with the UAE reflects mutual trust and a shared vision for sustainable growth,” Gen. Mbadi said.

“Uganda stands ready to work hand in hand with Gulf investors to transform our industrial and trade landscape.”

Sharjah’s African Tour: Building Bridges Beyond Borders

The Kampala engagement followed the successful Sharjah–Kenya Business Forum held earlier in Nairobi — part of a three-day African tour organized by SEDC to strengthen trade and investment linkages.

Presided over by H.E. Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, the Nairobi event brought together a strong UAE delegation including H.E. Hassan Issa Al-Husni, Deputy UAE Ambassador to Kenya; H.E. Mohammed Rashid bin Dimas and Nasser Mosbeh Al Tunaiji, SCCI Board Members; Abdul Aziz Shattaf, Director of SEDC; and Saif Mohamed Salim Alsuwaidi, Investment Promotion Manager at Shurooq.

The mission provided a vital platform for Sharjah’s business community to engage directly with East Africa’s economic and logistics hubs, setting the tone for deeper cooperation in manufacturing, renewable energy, and technology.

“Sharjah’s African outreach signals confidence in East Africa’s rising markets and complements Uganda’s strategic role as a regional gateway,” Ambassador Malango noted.

A Pan-African Vision: From the UN to Uganda

Drawing from nearly three decades of service with the United Nations, Ambassador Malango shared her personal journey — from her roots in Equatorial Guinea to her appointment by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

“It is an honour to promote Uganda as a heritage, tourism, and investment destination — and as a second home,” she said.

Since relocating to Uganda, she has championed women-owned businesses, sustainable tourism, and Pan-African investment networks that reflect Uganda’s growing global footprint.

Uganda: Where Potential Meets Purpose

Ambassador Malango painted a vivid picture of Uganda as a rising economic powerhouse.

With 78% of its population under 35, the nation boasts a dynamic workforce and offers access to a regional market exceeding 500 million consumers.

Known for its stability and natural wonders — from the Source of the Nile to half the world’s mountain gorillas — Uganda is fast becoming East Africa’s sustainable tourism and logistics hub.

“Uganda is a destination, a partner, and a home where potential meets purpose,” she told the delegates.

Shared Visions, Shared Futures

Uganda’s Vision 2040 and the UAE’s Vision 2031 both prioritize innovation, value addition, and inclusivity.

Ambassador Malango emphasized that Uganda and the UAE are aligned in their development agendas, and that their partnership is poised to triple bilateral trade within five years.

“The UAE’s success story proves what visionary leadership and strategic partnerships can achieve — Uganda is ready to rise on that same foundation,” she added.

Investment Hotspots: Sectors of Opportunity

Energy & Renewables: Over 6.5 billion barrels of oil reserves, vast hydropower, and solar capacity worth more than USD 20 billion await UAE investors.

AMEA Power and Masdar are already driving Uganda’s clean energy transition.

Infrastructure & Real Estate: Thirty-one industrial parks, new tourism roads, and airport expansions present PPP openings for Sharjah’s builders and developers.

Agribusiness: The Elite Agro Group and Lulu Group International are investing over USD 200 million in tea processing and agro-industrial parks.

Tourism & Hospitality: Opportunities in eco-lodges, MICE facilities, and regional tourism corridors connecting Gulf and African markets.

ICT & Digital Economy: With 65% mobile penetration, Uganda offers fertile ground for fintech and cybersecurity partnerships, boosted by Mara Group’s USD 50 million telecom expansion.

Healthcare & Biotechnology: UAE’s G42 and Global Gases Group are injecting over USD 150 million into medical infrastructure and renewable energy initiatives.

Logistics & Supply Chain: Uganda’s central location positions it as the natural distribution hub of East Africa, serving the entire EAC market.

AfCFTA: Uganda as Africa’s Launchpad

As a founding member of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Uganda offers preferential access to 1.3 billion consumers and a USD 3.4 trillion GDP.

The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) now operates a One-Step Centre to simplify investor registration, tax facilitation, and land verification.

Uganda’s investment incentives include:

100% foreign ownership Up to 10-year tax holidays Unrestricted profit repatriation Legal protection and IP enforcement

A Strategic Call to Action

Ambassador Malango closed with five concrete priorities to consolidate UAE–Uganda cooperation:

Establish a Uganda–UAE Business Council for coordinated investment. Develop joint ventures within AfCFTA value chains. Invest in logistics, processing, and tourism hubs across Uganda. Transfer technology and build youth capacity. Advance sustainable tourism partnerships balancing conservation and commerce.

“Uganda is a country, an opportunity, and our home,” she concluded.

“Together, we can build a bridge between East Africa and the Gulf that future generations will walk across — carrying prosperity and shared humanity.”

About Ambassador Rosa Malango

A native of Equatorial Guinea, Ambassador Rosa Malango dedicated nearly 30 years to the United Nations, serving in senior leadership across continents.

As Uganda’s Special Presidential Envoy for Tourism and Trade, she is redefining Uganda’s global image through diplomacy, sustainability, and Pan-African investment advocacy.