A high-level business delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday concluded a one-day field visit across Uganda’s infrastructure development and innovation & technology sectors, identifying substantial opportunities for investment and technological collaboration.
The visit, part of the 4th Uganda–UAE Business Forum activities, revealed that Uganda’s infrastructure modernization and digital innovation programmes are ready for strategic foreign investment.
The UAE delegation expressed optimism about Uganda’s rapidly developing transport network and government-backed ICT innovation ecosystem.
Among the delegation’s key findings was a bankable plan to modernize Port Bell on the shores of Lake Victoria into a strategic, multi-modal “Green Port”.
The proposed redevelopment is expected to enhance connectivity between Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya while promoting sustainable transport solutions and reducing logistics costs.
The team also assessed six expressway projects within Uganda’s Greater Metropolitan Area, which were presented as viable, shovel-ready opportunities for public–private partnerships and direct UAE infrastructure investment.
The projects are aligned with Uganda’s national goal to expand transport corridors that facilitate regional trade and industrial growth.
In the technology space, the UAE investors toured the Uganda ICT Institute and the National ICT Innovation Hub, which houses over 90 active startups focusing on fintech, health tech, agritech, and digital services.
The delegation praised Uganda’s government-supported ICT innovation ecosystem, particularly the country’s investment in emerging technologies such as augmented and virtual reality (AVR), where a specialized AVR Center is nurturing young developers and content creators.
“The scale of innovation and local capacity we’ve seen here is impressive. Uganda is clearly positioning itself as a serious technology hub in East Africa,” one UAE delegate noted during the tour.
Deeper Partnerships
Officials said the visit marked a mutual commitment to advancing infrastructure and technology partnerships, laying the groundwork for upcoming Government-to-Business (G2B) and Business-to-Business (B2B) engagements during the two-day Uganda–UAE Business Forum at Speke Resort Munyonyo (October 27–29).
Ambassador Zaake Wanume Kibedi, Uganda’s envoy to the UAE, described the visit as “a clear signal of the UAE’s growing confidence in Uganda’s investment climate and innovation potential.”
“This visit demonstrates the depth of interest from UAE investors in Uganda’s infrastructure and digital transformation journey,” Amb. Kibedi said.
“We are seeing the convergence of capital, technology, and vision — a powerful combination for Uganda’s next phase of growth.”
The visit’s success sets the tone for high-level discussions at the forum, expected to attract policymakers, investors, and business leaders from both nations to negotiate partnerships and sign new investment frameworks.
