Investors Eye Uganda’s Business Potential in Equity Trade Roadshow

More than 150 participants from 10 nationalities, including business leaders, investors, policymakers and private-sector stakeholders, are participating in the 2026 Uganda & Rwanda Trade and Investment Roadshow organized by Equity Group. The roadshow aims to unlock business and investment opportunities, strengthen economic ties, and connect businesses and investors with key partners across the region.

The Uganda leg brings together African and international investors and business leaders to explore Uganda’s investment landscape and cross-border opportunities, with engagements spanning agriculture, mining, manufacturing, trade and coffee. The program also connects participants with policymakers, industry leaders and private-sector stakeholders.

Speaking during the roadshow, Hon. Sanjay Tanna, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Uganda, said Uganda’s economic transformation will require stronger investment in value addition, manufacturing, innovation and skills, while calling for deeper collaboration between government and financial institutions to unlock opportunities for businesses.

He also commended Equity Bank for its contribution to Uganda’s financial services landscape, saying, “We are here to celebrate Equity and the role it has played in transforming the way banking is done. Equity has demonstrated that when financial services are brought closer to entrepreneurs and small businesses, they can become a powerful driver of economic transformation. I encourage Equity to build on this legacy in Uganda by going deeper into our communities, strengthening financial literacy and bookkeeping among small and micro businesses, and helping them access the finance and markets they need to grow. Government is ready to work with institutions such as Equity to reduce barriers to investment, lower the cost of capital and create an environment where businesses can invest, expand and create jobs.”

The roadshow will also feature a Uganda Coffee Value Chain Roundtable bringing together key players, including Neumann Kaffee Gruppe and Volcafe, alongside business networking aimed at translating discussions into commercial opportunities.

Welcoming the delegates, Equity Bank Uganda Executive Director, Claver Serumaga, said the roadshow demonstrates Equity’s commitment to facilitating cross-border trade and investment, while connecting businesses to the capital, markets, technology and strategic partnerships they need to scale across East Africa.

“Uganda does not lack opportunity; what we need is to connect that opportunity to the right capital, markets, technology and partnerships. At Equity Bank Uganda, we see our role as going beyond financing to actively connecting businesses to the ecosystems they need to grow, compete and scale. Whether it is coffee, agriculture, manufacturing, or innovation, the real opportunity is to move beyond exporting raw potential and capture greater value through processing, technology, branding and access to regional and global markets. Our Trade & Investment Roadshow is about making those connections happen, bringing businesses, investors, policymakers and markets to the same table and turning conversations into partnerships, transactions and investment. When businesses grow, markets deepen and value is retained locally, Uganda’s economy grows with them.” he said.

Participants will engage directly with Uganda’s business ecosystem through business forums, sector deep-dives, networking sessions and site visits, including Zigoti Coffee Farm for the coffee value chain track and JNL Industries, Roofings Uganda Limited and other businesses for the general site visit.

Speaking on the importance of the roadshow, Equity Group Associate Director of Trade Relations, Mahvish Malik, said trade missions provide an important platform for businesses to build relationships, explore new markets and identify opportunities for commercial collaboration.

“At Equity Group, we believe that unlocking trade and investment opportunities requires more than simply talking about markets, it requires taking businesses into those markets, connecting them with the right people and helping them understand opportunities on the ground. Through our Trade and Investment Missions, we curate targeted business and government engagements, value-chain experiences and market linkages that can translate into real partnerships, investment, sourcing and market access. Uganda is a market with significant potential, and we are pleased to bring businesses and investors together to explore opportunities that can drive cross-border growth and shared prosperity across the region.”