Uganda’s private sector has been recognised as a key driver of national stability, peace and access to regional and global markets, as President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni applauded business leaders for their role in the country’s economic transformation.
The President made the remarks while officiating at the Kampala Business Forum held at Kampala Serena Hotel.
The forum was organised under the theme “The Power of Collaboration: Public -Private Partnerships for National Transformation.”
President Museveni commended the business community for sustaining economic activity and facilitating Uganda’s integration into regional and international markets.
He praised Kampala’s business leaders for actively supporting government programmes aimed at structural economic transformation.
“You are the middleclass people who depend on what we call profit. Profit is a difference between the cost of production and the final price. You are profit makers, you are the middle class not peasants,” he remarked.
The President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to structured infrastructure development as a foundation for market access and competitiveness.
He urged business leaders to continue embracing productive investment, stressing that prosperity is the result of deliberate and disciplined effort.
“The Bible says that whatever a man does, that is what he reaps, and this business forum is exactly what NRM has planted,” he said.
President Museveni drew historical parallels to illustrate the role of the middle class in shaping economic and political systems.
“The middle class, the bourgeois were part of the French revolution because it was the Fedalists who had brought taxes, therefore what we are seeing here is you the middle class coming up and discovering the interest of integrating a United Uganda and also a United East Africa”, Museveni said.
He noted that economies grow when citizens focus on shared economic interests rather than identity differences.
He said Uganda’s emphasis on interest-based politics has created a stable and predictable environment for investment.
Leaders of the business community welcomed the President’s remarks and reiterated their support for the government’s development agenda.
The Chairman of the Presidential CEO Forum, Mr. Emmanuel Katongole, thanked President Museveni and the NRM government for creating a conducive environment for enterprise.
“His Excellency’s leadership has connected the doors of national development like a master planner ensuring that no sector grows in isolation. These are the gains that we must protect,” Mr. Katongole said.
“Business and industry love peace and stability, without peace and stability businesses fail and families get disgruntled. That is why we are here today. We are the business leaders and the beneficiaries of that level of peace and security.”
The Kampala Business Forum also formally endorsed President Museveni for re-election.
The forum resolved to support him in the 2026 general elections.
President Museveni welcomed the endorsement and expressed appreciation to the business community.
“I congratulate you and welcome your endorsement,” President Museveni said.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, thanked the private sector for backing the President.
“I want to thank the Private sector for endorsing President Museveni, you have made our work easy in driving national development,” he said.
The CEO of Great Lakes Safaris, Amos Wekesa, also praised the President for supporting tourism.
“Your Excellency, I want to thank you for the tourism industry. It’s now doing wonders. We now have many tourists travelling around ”
The forum concluded with renewed calls for stronger public-private collaboration to sustain peace, grow markets and accelerate Uganda’s long-term economic transformation.
