Uganda is seeking to attract more investment into green energy, agro-processing, waste management and digital services as the country pushes to move beyond raw commodity exports and create more jobs through value addition.
Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) Director General Robert Mukiza said the country wants investors to play a bigger role in developing industries that can add value to local resources while supporting a more sustainable economy.
Mukiza made the remarks in Kampala during the launch of the second edition of French Week Uganda 2026, organised by the French Chamber of Commerce in Uganda (FCCU).
His message comes as Uganda seeks to deepen economic ties with France and attract capital and technology into sectors viewed as important to the country’s industrialisation and green transition.
France emerges as a major investment partner
The engagement comes against a growing French investment presence in Uganda.
Mukiza said French companies have committed more than $4 billion in investments in Uganda since 2021, making France a major source of foreign direct investment for the country. About 40 French companies are currently operating in areas including energy, infrastructure, logistics, transport, engineering and services, according to recent reporting on his remarks.
However, Uganda’s investment relationship with France remains considerably larger than its merchandise trade relationship.
Data cited by Mukiza shows French exports to Uganda were about €47.7 million in 2025, while Ugandan exports to France were approximately €35.9 million, putting bilateral merchandise trade at roughly €84 million.
For Uganda, the investment challenge is therefore not only attracting foreign capital but converting that capital into productive industries capable of increasing domestic value addition and exports.
Agro-processing seen as a route to higher-value exports
Agriculture remains central to Uganda’s investment pitch.
The country exports significant volumes of agricultural commodities, but greater processing could allow producers and businesses to capture more value before products reach international markets.
Mukiza has urged investors to look beyond the export of raw commodities such as coffee and consider opportunities in roasting, processing, packaging, cold-chain infrastructure and traceability. Such investments could also help Ugandan exporters respond to increasingly demanding international market requirements.
The focus fits Uganda’s broader industrialisation strategy, which seeks to expand agro-industrialisation and increase the role of private capital in productive sectors. Uganda’s Ministry of Finance has also identified growing investor interest in infrastructure and agro-industrialisation as an opportunity for leveraging private investment.
Green energy and waste management move up the agenda
Green energy is another major area of interest.
Uganda has significant renewable-energy resources and has been seeking greater private-sector participation in renewable power generation and related infrastructure. Government-backed institutions such as the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company have been established to help mobilise financing for renewable-energy projects and private-sector participation.
Mukiza’s investment pitch extends beyond power generation to areas such as energy distribution, mini-grids, energy storage, electric mobility, clean cooking and carbon-market projects, according to the latest discussions around French investment opportunities.
Waste management, water and sanitation are also being presented as commercial opportunities, particularly as Uganda’s urban population and demand for municipal services grow.
The investment case is increasingly tied to the circular economy: converting waste into useful products, improving recycling and developing infrastructure that can reduce environmental costs while creating businesses and employment.
French Week puts decarbonisation at the centre
French Ambassador to Uganda Virginie Leroy said this year’s French Week will place particular emphasis on decarbonisation, the green economy and the digitalisation of agriculture.
The FCCU says the 2026 edition, running from September 19 to 23, is focused on sustainability, innovation and business collaboration between Uganda and France.
The programme reflects a wider shift in the investment conversation from simply mobilising capital to financing technologies and business models that can reduce emissions, improve productivity and make supply chains more resilient.
Digital agriculture is one such area, with technologies offering opportunities in farm data, traceability, payments, logistics, market access and climate-smart production.
Digital services offer another growth frontier
Uganda is also positioning its expanding digital economy as an investment opportunity.
Mukiza has identified digital and financial services among the areas where French businesses could expand their involvement, particularly as digital payments and technology-enabled services become increasingly important to businesses and consumers.
The government is simultaneously seeking to build a stronger digital ecosystem capable of supporting businesses, financial inclusion and technology-based exports.
For French investors, the opportunities therefore extend beyond traditional infrastructure and energy into software, digital finance, agricultural technology and business-process services.
From investment commitments to value addition
The central question for Uganda will be whether new investment commitments translate into factories, technology transfer, skilled jobs, exports and stronger domestic supply chains.
The French Week discussions provide a platform for Ugandan and French businesses to explore that transition.
Uganda’s investment authorities are effectively pitching a market where foreign capital can combine with local raw materials, labour and growing domestic demand — while French technology and expertise can support the shift toward cleaner production and higher-value industries.
The FCCU says the 2026 programme is intended to strengthen business connections between the two countries, with sustainability and innovation at the centre of the engagement.
For Uganda, the broader objective is clear: attract investment not simply to finance economic activity, but to process more of what the country produces, create higher-value jobs and build industries capable of competing in increasingly climate-conscious global markets.
