The Republic of Uganda is deepening its economic and diplomatic footprint in the Gulf region as preparations intensify for the Second Uganda–Qatar Business Forum, slated for Monday, 27th October 2025, at the Rotana City Center in Doha.
The highly anticipated event, themed “Uganda and Qatar in Partnership for Shared Economic Development,” will build upon the achievements of the inaugural forum and is expected to attract a high-level delegation of policymakers, investors, and private-sector executives from both countries.
Organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Uganda in the State of Qatar, in collaboration with KON W.L.L as the strategic partner, the forum underscores Kampala’s commitment to leveraging diplomacy as a tool for economic transformation and foreign investment attraction.
According to H.E. Dr. Stephen Chebrot, Uganda’s Ambassador to Qatar, the 2025 edition comes at a time when Uganda is pursuing deeper engagement with the Gulf region, guided by its broader Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Programme.
“The Uganda–Qatar Business Forum provides a valuable platform for dialogue, networking, and partnership. Uganda welcomes Qatari investors to explore our country’s vast potential in agriculture, tourism, minerals, energy, manufacturing, and ICT — key sectors driving Uganda’s transformation agenda,” said Amb. Dr. Chebrot.
The one-day event will feature a comprehensive program of keynote addresses, high-level panel discussions, and sectoral presentations by prominent Ugandan and Qatari institutions. Among the confirmed participants are the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), Uganda Free Zones and Export Promotion Authority, Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), Qatar Chamber of Commerce, and Qatar Tourism.
Delegates will also participate in business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking sessions designed to foster partnerships and joint ventures. Additionally, the forum will include cultural showcases highlighting Uganda’s heritage, natural beauty, and investment potential in tourism, while encouraging stronger people-to-people ties between the two nations.
The Uganda–Qatar Business Forum has emerged as one of the flagship initiatives under Uganda’s drive to position itself as a gateway for trade and investment in the East African Community (EAC). The first edition of the forum laid the foundation for increased collaboration, paving the way for new discussions in infrastructure, agribusiness, energy, and technology.
This year’s edition aims to consolidate those gains and identify actionable pathways for expanding bilateral trade volumes, which have shown steady growth in recent years. Uganda’s exports to Qatar, though modest, have primarily included agricultural products such as coffee, tea, and fish, while imports from Qatar have largely comprised petroleum products and industrial goods.
By aligning with Qatar’s National Vision 2030 — which emphasizes economic diversification and sustainable investment — Uganda seeks to attract Gulf-based investors into value-added sectors that can enhance industrialization and job creation at home.
Experts note that the timing of the forum is strategic, coinciding with Uganda’s broader ambition to strengthen trade relations beyond traditional markets in Europe and Asia. The event also reinforces Qatar’s growing interest in Africa’s emerging economies as it looks to expand its global investment portfolio.
Ambassador Chebrot reaffirmed that such engagements are crucial to bridging information gaps and building trust between the two business communities.
“The Uganda–Qatar Business Forum is not only a platform for business but also a bridge of friendship and mutual growth,” he emphasized.
The forum’s outcomes are expected to feed into future bilateral agreements and cooperation frameworks, potentially shaping a new era of Uganda–Qatar economic relations rooted in shared prosperity and sustainable development.
