Uganda’s ambitious plan to grow its economy tenfold takes center stage this week as government officials, business leaders, and development partners gather at Speke Resort Munyonyo for the crucial Trade Review Conference 2025. The two-day meeting, organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, aims to transform Uganda into a regional trade powerhouse under the theme “Towards Trade Competitiveness for Achieving the 10-Fold Growth Strategy.”

Trade Minister Francis Mwebesa opened the conference by emphasizing its importance in shaping Uganda’s economic future. “This gathering allows us to hear from all stakeholders on how to make Uganda more competitive in trade,” Mwebesa said. “Our government is fully committed to this growth strategy as part of our broader economic transformation.” The bold plan seeks to expand Uganda’s GDP from $53 billion to $500 billion by 2040, aligning with the country’s Vision 2040 development blueprint.

The conference brings together diverse voices from government, private sector, civil society, and academia to examine Uganda’s trade policies, identify obstacles, and develop practical solutions. Key discussion points include finding new markets for Ugandan products, reducing reliance on imports, improving access to trade financing, adopting digital trade technologies, supporting small businesses, and strengthening quality standards.

Anna Nambooze, Country Director for conference sponsor TradeMark Africa (TMA), highlighted the event’s role in fostering public-private cooperation. “This conference perfectly aligns with TMA’s mission to create prosperity through expanded trade,” Nambooze said. “We’re proud to facilitate discussions that will lead to concrete strategies for a more vibrant and inclusive trade environment.”

Uganda has a strong tradition of such sector review meetings, with previous conferences held in 2016, 2017, and 2018. However, this year’s gathering carries special significance as the country seeks to recover from recent economic challenges and position itself for dramatic growth. The packed agenda features expert presentations, panel debates, and workshops all focused on removing barriers to trade and creating new opportunities.

Central to the discussions is Uganda’s heavy reliance on agricultural exports like coffee, tea, and fish, alongside growing sectors such as tourism and services. Participants will explore ways to add value to raw materials, penetrate new international markets, and make Ugandan products more competitive globally.

The conference comes at a critical moment for Uganda’s economy. While the country has maintained steady growth in recent years, challenges like high youth unemployment, infrastructure gaps, and global economic uncertainty threaten progress. Successfully implementing the 10-Fold Growth Strategy would require massive investments in transportation, energy, and digital connectivity alongside policy reforms to improve the business climate.

As the Munyonyo meetings continue, all eyes will be on the practical recommendations that emerge. With proper implementation, the strategies developed this week could set Uganda on course to become East Africa’s leading trade hub and lift millions out of poverty through increased economic opportunities. The conference represents both an ambitious vision for the future and an urgent call to action for all stakeholders to work together in making Uganda’s trade potential a reality.