Gov’t to adopt experts’ recommendations from the 9th High-Level Economic Growth Forum

The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, in partnership with the International Growth Centre (IGC), successfully convened the Ninth High-Level Economic Growth Forum from 28th to 29th August 2025 under the theme "Enhancing Uganda's Competitiveness and Growth Amidst a Changing Global Economic Environment."

The Forum brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including local and international researchers. Academia, Private sector practitioners, Government officials, and Development Partners.

The objective of the Forum was to foster dialogue on strategic policies and investment initiatives that can enhance Uganda's economic resilience, accelerate productivity, and boost competitiveness in pursuit of the tenfold growth strategy. In addition, the Forum generated proposals to inform the national budget priorities and the growth strategy for PY 2026/27 and the medium term.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to adopt recommendations by experts on the 9^th economic growth forum, calling upon stakeholders and partners to join hands to realize the desired goal.

“The Ministry of Finance, Planning Economic Development reaffirms its commitment to adopt these actionable recommendations from the 9th High-Level Economic: Growth Forum in. shaping FY 2026/27 National Budget and medium-term strategies, However Implementation is responsibility, and the Finance Ministry -calls upon all Government, Private sector, Anadenia, and Development Partners to work together to transform these ideas into tangible outcomes for the people of Uganda” reads the statement.

During the panel discussion 

The Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, Patrick Ocailap, during a panel discussion with fellow experts, said that in order to boost Uganda’s export development and competitiveness, there is a need for all players in the economy to join hands.

While concluding the discussion, Mr Ocailap said that “collective efforts are needed to position Uganda firmly within the regional and global value chains.”

He was presenting in a panel discussion led by the Executive Director of the IGC, Dr. Jonathan Leape, and panelists including the Governor Bank of Uganda Dr. Michael Atingi-Ego, PS Ministry of Health Dr. Diana Atwine, Commissioner Joshua Mutambi from the Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives and Dr. Cosmas Mwikirize the Superintendent of Industrial Value Chains Development at STI ministry.

Ms. Ann Nambooze of Trademark East Africa showed how Uganda can address the persistent structural bottlenecks such as the limited value addition, trade logistics, market access and the required policy and institutional reforms.

Key recommendations to achieve the tenfold growth from other panelists included; Mobilising long-term financing, especially for infrastructure development, stabilizing the financial sector, securing capital to de-risk businesses, mindset change & skills development, macroeconomic stability, result based financing, budget repurposing focusing resources to the productive sectors of the economy, efficiency and value for money, digitization and investing more resources in health for a productive population, empowering the youth as well as implementing service delivery standards among other.

Mr. Patrick Ocailap (M), with other panelists, takes a group picture