In a strategic move to promote local investment and expand market access for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Equity Bank has launched a two-day trade mission in Uganda, attracting over 40 investors from across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Running from today, Thursday, May 22, to Friday, May 23 at Four Points by Sheraton in Kampala, the initiative is part of Equity Group’s broader Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP), which seeks to unlock regional economic potential through cross-border investment and trade.
The delegation arrived in Uganda on Wednesday evening after completing a similar mission in Tanzania, which included stops in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. These back-to-back trade engagements are designed to deepen regional integration and strengthen value chains in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, and tourism.
Speaking about the mission, Equity Group Managing Director and CEO Dr James Mwangi said, “This mission is a strategic effort to unlock the enormous potential that exists in Tanzania and Uganda by connecting global capital to local opportunities. Our goal is to catalyse investment and trade that delivers lasting impact—creating jobs, enhancing value chains, and driving inclusive economic growth.”
The Uganda trade mission features a robust agenda that includes panel discussions, business-to-business (B2B) networking sessions, site visits to strategic industrial and agricultural locations, and engagement with government officials and policymakers. Key sectors under the spotlight include dairy processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, mining, financial services, agri-tech, and renewable energy.
Investors participating in the mission include entrepreneurs, private equity firms, development finance institutions, and other institutional investors. These high-level engagements are expected to lead to significant capital inflows and long-term partnerships that boost Uganda’s domestic industries and SMEs.
The event builds on the success of previous Equity-led missions, including Uganda-DRC, Uganda-Vietnam, India-Uganda, and DRC Investors Roadshows, all of which have contributed to new business deals, investment commitments, and strengthened cross-border collaboration. These initiatives are also aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), of which Equity Group is a key supporter, and reflect the bank’s formal partnership with the East African Community (EAC) to accelerate regional economic integration.
Under the ARRP, Equity Group is channelling resources equivalent to 2% of the region’s GDP into the private sector, focusing on high-impact areas such as agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, and support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The Group’s long-term vision is to reach 100 million individuals and businesses by 2030 and create up to 50 million jobs across the continent.
Through this trade mission, Equity Bank reaffirms its commitment to fostering sustainable development by connecting international investors with Uganda’s rapidly evolving economic landscape.