More than 150 investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers and business leaders from 10 nationalities converged in Kampala to explore opportunities in Uganda and strengthen cross-border trade and investment.

Uganda is positioning itself as a destination for investment, with opportunities in agriculture, coffee, manufacturing, mining, trade and innovation attracting growing interest from businesses and investors across the region.

That opportunity was at the centre of discussions in Kampala on 14^th September, when more than 150 investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers and private-sector leaders from 10 nationalities gathered for the 2026 Uganda & Rwanda Trade and Investment Roadshow.

The roadshow, convened by Equity, brought together players from government, business and finance to explore what it will take to turn Uganda’s economic potential into investment, stronger businesses, new markets and jobs.

But beyond the numbers and the formal meetings, the gathering was about making connections, between businesses looking for capital and markets, investors searching for opportunities, policymakers shaping the business environment and institutions that can help enterprises expand across borders.

The Kampala programme opened with a business outlook session involving Equity Bank Uganda clients, business leaders, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

The discussions focused on some of the issues that continue to shape the fortunes of businesses: access to finance, technology, skills, markets and policy support.

Hon. Sanjay Tanna, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, commended Equity’s contribution to Uganda’s financial services sector and its support for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

He called for increased support for micro, small and medium enterprises, particularly those operating outside the country’s major urban centres, noting the need for greater financial literacy, proper bookkeeping and access to affordable finance.

For Uganda to realise its economic ambitions, he said, the country must also accelerate value addition, manufacturing, innovation and skills development, areas that offer significant opportunities for businesses and investors.

His remarks highlighted a central issue facing Uganda’s private sector: opportunity exists, but businesses need the right ecosystem to convert that opportunity into sustainable growth.

For Claver Serumaga, Executive Director of Equity Bank Uganda, that is where the financial sector can play a broader role.

“Uganda does not lack opportunity; what we need is to connect that opportunity to the right capital, markets, technology and partnerships,” Serumaga said.

He said Equity’s role extends beyond providing finance to helping businesses access the networks and ecosystems required to grow and compete in regional and international markets.

“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,” he said.

The emphasis on value addition is particularly significant for an economy with strong agricultural and natural-resource potential. Moving further up the value chain can allow businesses to retain more value locally while creating opportunities for employment, technology transfer and new industries.

The roadshow is also taking that conversation beyond Uganda.

On 16^th September, delegates will travel from Entebbe to Kigali, Rwanda, where the roadshow will continue, giving participants another opportunity to build commercial relationships, explore markets and identify investment opportunities.

The move from Kampala to Kigali reflects the increasingly regional nature of business in East Africa, where companies seeking growth are looking beyond national borders for customers, suppliers, technology, capital and strategic partnerships.

For Equity, the roadshow is therefore as much about connectivity as it is about finance.

A business seeking to expand may need more than a loan. It may need a new distributor, a technology partner, market information or an introduction to potential customers and investors. Connecting those pieces can be the difference between an idea with potential and a business capable of scaling.

As the delegation moves from Uganda to Rwanda, the message from the roadshow is clear: unlocking Africa’s business potential will require stronger connections between capital, enterprise, government and markets.

And when those connections translate into investment and business growth, the benefits extend beyond individual companies, creating jobs, deepening markets and keeping more value within the economies where businesses operate.

For Uganda, the invitation to investors is straightforward: the opportunities are here. The next step is turning them into partnerships, investments and businesses that can grow across borders.