In a bid to to realise Uganda’s ten fold growth,Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) has organized National Trade Review Conference (TRC) 2026 which will serve as a critical moment of reflection for Uganda’s trade sector.
According to MTIC officials government and private sector leaders will undertake a comprehensive stock-taking of the country’s trade performance and readiness to deliver on its ambitious tenfold economic growth agenda.
Planned for March 4–5 conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo the conference will bring together between 250 and 350 participants to assess how Uganda’s trade systems, policies, and institutions are positioned to support the country’s target of expanding the economy from approximately US$50 billion to US$500 billion by 2040.
At the heart of the dialogue will be a detailed review of export performance, value addition levels, market access opportunities, trade competitiveness, and institutional coordination. Stakeholders are expected to examine both achievements and bottlenecks within Uganda’s trade ecosystem — from manufacturing and agro-processing to minerals development, services trade, and digital commerce.
“The platform will not only evaluate progress made under existing trade policies but also interrogate Uganda’s preparedness to fully leverage the Tenfold Growth Strategy, anchored on Agro-industrialisation, Tourism Development, Mineral Development, and Science, Technology and Innovation (ATMS),”MTIC Public Relations Khadija Nakakande said.
She further said that the Conference is expected to generate an evidence-based assessment of key trade indicators, identify structural gaps affecting export growth and industrialisation, and propose time-bound reforms to strengthen Uganda’s participation in regional and global markets.
“A major outcome of the gathering will be the unveiling of the revised National Trade Policy and the National Export Development Strategy, alongside an implementation plan and an online reporting platform designed to enhance accountability and coordination. These instruments are intended to sharpen Uganda’s regulatory environment, improve export promotion frameworks, and scale up value chain competitiveness,”she stated.
According to her Development partners and private sector representatives will also use the forum to evaluate the cost of doing business, border efficiency, standards compliance, and the integration of MSMEs and cooperatives into formal trade systems.
Nearly two decades since the current Trade Policy was adopted, the 2026 Conference is being positioned as a decisive checkpoint — one that will determine whether Uganda’s trade architecture is sufficiently robust to drive structural transformation, export growth, and inclusive economic development.
Uganda’s trade performance has shown significant growth, with export earnings rising from $4.2 billion in 2022 to $8.5 billion in 2024, driven by strategic interventions in mineral products, coffee, and manufactured goods
Key export markets include the Middle East (43.6%) and the East African Community (24.1%), although the national trade deficit remains a factor