The Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development has officially launched the Uganda Connect International Buyers Week, scheduled to occur from November 25 to 28 at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort.
This four-day event, themed “Meet. Connect. Trade,” seeks to establish Uganda as a competitive provider of high-quality products and services for global markets.
This year’s edition introduces the Uganda Connect Marketplace, an innovative open-access platform that will showcase Uganda’s premier export-ready brands through live demonstrations, buyer sampling and consumer engagement.
The event will convene vetted international buyers, investors and trade representatives to facilitate business deals, factory visits, product sampling and trade facilitation. It will feature over 50 value-added products across the agriculture, manufacturing, services and technology sectors.
Exporters will have the opportunity to engage directly with buyers through structured Deal Rooms, organized by market region, and participate in factory visits designed to demonstrate Uganda’s production capacity and reliability.
Odrek Rwabwogo, the chairman of PACIED, emphasized the strategic importance of directly connecting Uganda’s exporters with international buyers.
“We view Uganda as a company, and every company must have a robust sales and marketing department. Our strategy is to position Uganda’s exporters as professional and competitive players in the global market. We aim to showcase what a country can achieve when demand increases, with the goal of generating $1 billion in export contracts. We also seek to address non-tariff barriers within the region and beyond, which continue to impede the flow of goods despite growing demand,” he said.
He further noted that the International Buyers Week will help eliminate blind trade and establish structured, reliable markets for Ugandan goods and services. Rwabwogo emphasized that the event aligns with Uganda’s strategic agenda to establish trade hubs and representative offices in key global markets, including Africa, Europe, the Middle East, the United States, and Asia.
This initiative aims to enhance export linkages and address non-tariff barriers. Rwabwogo highlighted that the Uganda Connect Buyers’ Week will provide global buyers with the opportunity to experience Ugandan products, engage with exporters, and observe value chains in action, facilitating the conversion of goodwill into tangible trade agreements and enduring partnerships.
Matthew Bagonza, the head of Secretariat at PACEID, stressed that the Buyers’ Week represents a practical step towards transforming Uganda’s export potential into real market access and sustainable partnerships.
“This annual event will showcase Uganda’s export-ready products and services to the world. Initiatives like the Buyers’ Week are a concrete expression of our mission, converting Uganda’s production capacity into structured and sustained market access,” Bagonza said.
Brenda Katarikawe Opus, the director of Marketing and Communications at PACEID, underscored Uganda’s export performance trajectory and the importance of the upcoming Buyers’ Week.
“Our export revenues increased from $4.8 billion in 2023 to $9.4 billion in 2025, with a target of reaching $12 billion. Events like this are crucial in maintaining that momentum,” she noted. The chief guest at the Buyers’ Week will be President Yoweri Museveni.
About the Author
