Uganda Eyes Nigeria as Gateway to West Africa, Amb. Kabonero Says Ahead Of Business Forum

KAMPALA, Uganda — September 3, 2026: Uganda is seeking to deepen its commercial engagement with Nigeria and position the West African country as a gateway to a wider regional market, Ambassador Richard Kabonero has said, ahead of the Uganda-Nigeria Business Forum and Exhibition 2026.

Amb. Kabonero, representing the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Uganda is looking to expand its commercial and diplomatic footprint in Nigeria while strengthening links with the wider West African market.

He said expanded operations by Uganda Airlines could further support trade, tourism and business exchanges between Uganda and Nigeria, while opening opportunities to connect Uganda with other major West African markets, including Ghana.

Kabonero also highlighted the potential for greater collaboration between Uganda’s and Nigeria’s creative industries, saying partnerships in areas such as entertainment, fashion and textiles could accelerate the growth of Uganda’s creative economy.

Mr Stephen Asiimwe, Chief Executive Officer of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda

His remarks come as more than 20 Nigerian companies and Ugandan businesses prepare to converge in Kampala next week for a two-day business forum aimed at unlocking new trade, investment and market opportunities between the two countries.

The Uganda-Nigeria Business Forum and Exhibition 2026, scheduled for September 9–10 at Mestil Hotel & Residences, will bring together businesses, investors, government agencies and policymakers to explore joint ventures, investment partnerships, market access and cross-border trade 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 political and 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.

Dr. Sam Omara of the Uganda High Commission in Abuja said the forum would provide businesses 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.

The Nigerian delegation will include companies and investors with interests in 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.

Nigeria Acting High Commissioner to Uganda Misitura Abdulraheem

Agriculture and agro-processing are expected to be among the major areas of discussion, with businesses exploring opportunities in livestock, agricultural value addition, farm management, palm oil and other segments of the agricultural value chain.

The forum will also seek to create opportunities for Nigerian investment in Uganda’s productive sectors while helping Ugandan businesses gain access to Nigeria’s large consumer market.

For Uganda, Nigeria offers a potential gateway into West Africa, while Nigerian companies can use Uganda’s strategic location to expand into 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 strong foundation for expanded business engagement.

He said Nigeria’s large consumer market presents opportunities for Ugandan exporters, particularly in food, tourism, textiles, fashion and the creative economy.

“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 added that Uganda could position itself as a gateway for Nigerian companies seeking to expand into East Africa, with improvements in 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 economic engagement under AfCFTA while creating opportunities for businesses in both countries to establish partnerships, expand markets and invest across borders.

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 strategic 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 major focus will be addressing practical constraints affecting cross-border commerce, including product registration, standards compliance, market-entry requirements and visa reciprocity.

Organisers say removing these non-tariff barriers will be critical to turning the market-access opportunities created by AfCFTA into actual business transactions and investment commitments.

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 since provided an important link for business and tourism between the two markets, while subsequent engagements have renewed efforts to establish a stronger Uganda-Nigeria trade and investment corridor.

Despite the size and economic potential of the two countries, bilateral trade remains below 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 already demonstrated the potential to penetrate the Nigerian market, with exports by Quality Chemical Industries Limited (Qcil) providing an example of Ugandan manufacturing capacity reaching West Africa.

The Kampala 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 products.

Tourism will also feature prominently, with organisers targeting increased visitor flows from Nigeria and stronger partnerships between tourism operators in the two countries.

Following the forum, members of the Nigerian delegation are expected to undertake business and tourism field visits to explore Uganda’s investment proposition, tourism assets and productive sectors.

Organisers expect the engagement to produce 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.

In the near term, the forum is expected to contribute to increased tourism arrivals from Nigeria, greater digital investment, stronger business linkages and expanded trade between the two countries.

The forum is supported by private-sector players including Quality Chemical Industries Limited and Uganda Airlines, alongside government institutions such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uganda Investment Authority, Uganda Export Promotion Board and Uganda Revenue Authority.

As African businesses increasingly look beyond national borders to take advantage of the opportunities created by AfCFTA, Uganda and Nigeria are seeking to build a stronger commercial bridge between East and West Africa.

The Kampala forum is expected to test whether that ambition can be converted into concrete deals, new market access and long-term investment partnerships.