Business owners spotlight Uganda's economic roadmap

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Over 100 business owners and managers gathered at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel for the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) CEO Post-Budget Meeting, dissecting Uganda’s 2025/2026 budget to unlock growth opportunities.

The forum, themed around strategic alignment with national development goals, marked a collaborative shift as the British, French, and Netherlands-Uganda chambers joined forces.

AmCham general manager Eve Zalwango said: “Assessing the budget ensures businesses chart a clear path amid evolving economic policies.”

AmCham President Meg Hilbert Jaquay urged stakeholders to “think differently to harness opportunities,” stressing unity: “Alone, growth is hard. Together, we strengthen our voice in the global supply chain.”

Andrew Kintu, Grant Thornton’s Senior Manager, highlighted Uganda’s ambition to grow its economy from $60 billion to $500 billion by 2040.

“Every business must scale 10-fold by 2040,” he said, pinpointing sectors like agro-industrial development, tourism, ICT, and mineral exploration. He cited Uganda’s 3.4% inflation rate—outperforming Kenya (3.8%), Ethiopia (7%), and others—as a draw for investors.

Kintu urged alignment with the Government’s ATMS pillars, including agriculture, where public-private partnerships thrive, and ICT, critical for innovation.

He also flagged opportunities in oil and gas via the Uganda National Mining Company (UNMC).

However, Monica Salirwe of Atacama Consulting raised red flags over the budget’s climate adaptation gaps.

“Without climate-resilient strategies, droughts could cripple businesses,” she warned, advocating for private-sector engagement in climate finance to mitigate risks.

The event underscored collaboration as key to Uganda’s economic transformation, blending optimism with urgent calls for strategic foresight.