President Museveni opens PACEID’s Buyers week with a call to boost manufacturers’ Capital, Entrepreneurship & Knowledge.

From 25th through to 28th November 2025, Uganda is hosting foreign delegations from different parts of the world to convene in Kampala to showcase Uganda’s ready product exports and explore avenues for trade agreement among other benefits  

The International Buyers week according to Mathew Bagonza, Head of the Secretariat at the Presidential Advisory Committee on Export and Industrial Development (PACEID) is a national export promotion platform to strengthen Uganda’s presence in key export markets that aims at positioning Uganda as a reliable global supplier and deepen Uganda’s integration in continental and global value chains.

The International buyers week was opened by the President of Uganda Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni represented by the Vice President Jesca Alupo.

PACIED is led by Mr. Odrek Rwabwogo as Chairman, he is also a Farmer, Entrepreneur, a Journalist and a Special Presidential advisor.

He said that the week will among benefits “facilitate trade agreements, and deals and demonstrate what a country can do when foreign demand increases”.

While reading the President’s speech, Vice President Jesca Alupo said that while Uganda has other resources, such as land, human resources among other the people have lacked capital, entrepreneurship skills and knowledge to strengthen the labour force.

He said that Uganda boasts of a young educated population, improved infrastructure, security, peace among others.

“We need people with capital and entrepreneur insights to see opportunities in Uganda. We have sector’s such as commercial agriculture, Industries, ICT and Services” he said.

Vice President Jesca Alupo

On her side while welcoming the foreign trade delagates, applauded PACEID for the consistency in organizing the buyers week and the support from the delaga and partners working close with government.  

“Government continue to provide a condusive environment for business and partnerships can grow stronger “ she said

The buyers week has attracted delegates of over 100 Uganda exporters and suppliers, 20 international buyers from USA, Europe , South Africa, East Africa, West Africa including Serbia, DRC, Nigeria among others.

The state Minister of Trade Gen Wilson Mbadi urged Uganda manufacturing to leverage existing platforms such as AfCFTA, Tripartite regional block to scale up production, with reduce trade barriers, boosting cross border investments and entering new markets.

Mr. Wankele Mene, from the African Continental free trade area (AfCFTA) called for strengthening partnership and connectivity to boost trade among African and beyond.

He said that AfCFTA is buildung a single market for manufacturers products, strengthening African position on global trade, redefining opportunities among others.

The Chairman, PACEID Odrek Rwabwogo while making opening remarks said that urged foreign buyers to emphasize on Uganda’s production made especially by young people to open foreign markets but also enable manufacturing from local raw materials while minimizing rural urban migration.

“When we said meet, connect and trade. We are asking the world to concentrate on what the young people are doing and to sell to other territories and return skills for export. This is how young people will create jobs” he said.

He said the committee recently embarked on investment and partnership to recover and supply in he region and beyond through export awareness on markets.

The Chairman also said that while they are focusing on aggregation parks for products orders to secure sustainable supplies, the committee has specifically established a food safety ombudsman to ensure safety and standards of goods before entering the markets.

A representative of one of the sponsors Bulambulu Migate Coffee said that there contribution and growth is hinged to PACEID’s support that allowed them to access me markets to export their coffee especially Arabica coffee to China. They are going to acquire 10 acres of high attitude land to plant Arabica coffee to meet the demand.

Chairman PACEID on 25th November 2025 started receiving delegations including a ten-person Ethiopian delegation at PACEID headquarters in Naguru to attend the second Uganda Connect International Buyers week.

He said that the Ethiopian delegation is looking for opportunities in agro processing, finance, banking, and construct

The week from 25–28 November week is featuring leading voices shaping global trade, supply chains, market access, and Africa’s export competitiveness.

These speakers will equip Ugandan exporters with practical insights on: Entering competitive market, Meeting international standard, Supply chain readiness, Navigating global buyer expectations among others.