Uganda has intensified its drive to become a leading export and investment destination after the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID) officially launched the Uganda Connect International Buyers’ Week 2026, a flagship trade event aimed at linking Ugandan producers directly with international markets.
Scheduled for 9–15 November 2026 at the Speke Resort Convention Centre under the theme “Meet. Connect. Trade.”, the week-long event is expected to bring together global buyers, investors, trade representatives, policymakers and Ugandan exporters in what officials describe as one of the country’s most strategic market access platforms.
Speaking at the launch, PACEID Head of Secretariat Matthew Bagonza called upon exporters, investors, development partners and the private sector to actively participate, arguing that Uganda has reached a stage where sustained engagement with international buyers is essential to unlocking new export markets and attracting investment.
Bagonza said the Buyers’ Week goes far beyond a traditional trade exhibition. Instead, it has been designed as a business matchmaking platform featuring business-to-business meetings, factory visits, product sampling, investment engagements and destination experiences that allow international buyers to witness firsthand Uganda’s production capacity and investment potential.
The launch also coincided with the release of PACEID’s Half-Year Performance Report covering January to June 2026, outlining progress made in advancing Uganda’s export-led industrialisation strategy while setting priorities for the remainder of the year.
Addressing participants virtually, PACEID Chairman Odrek Rwabwogo said the committee is transitioning from what he termed PACEID 1.0—which concentrated on market entry, export financing, standards and infrastructure—to PACEID 2.0, an approach focused on Regional Aggregation Centres, data analytics and strengthening export value chains to build long-term competitiveness.
The strategy is already yielding measurable outcomes.
According to PACEID, previous Buyers’ Week engagements have enabled Ugandan value-added coffee products, including iced espresso, to enter the United States market, while locally manufactured leather bags are now being exported after meeting international quality standards.
Demand is also growing for Ugandan sesame destined for China, beef exports to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and dairy products targeting Algeria and Nigeria under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
Director of Markets and Communication Brenda Katarikawe said the Buyers’ Week, first launched in 2023, has demonstrated that bringing buyers to Uganda significantly reduces marketing costs for exporters while creating lasting commercial relationships.
She noted that exposing buyers directly to Uganda’s production systems has strengthened confidence in the country’s agricultural and manufactured products, resulting in sustained market opportunities.
PACEID is targeting buyer engagements valued between US$30 million and US$50 million during this year’s edition, with an estimated US$3 million expected to translate into signed and serviced contracts.
Officials say the broader objective extends beyond immediate deals to building long-term export pipelines that support Uganda’s ambition of becoming a globally competitive manufacturing and export hub.