Islamabad, August 29, 2026: Uganda has invited Pakistani investors to explore opportunities in its expanding agriculture, mineral, energy and tourism sectors, offering tax incentives for greenfield investments and proposing a series of initiatives to establish stronger direct commercial linkages between the two countries.
The invitation was extended by Uganda’s Chargé d’Affaires, Ambassador Matata Twaha, while addressing an interactive business meeting at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Saturday. He said Uganda was ready to facilitate Pakistani entrepreneurs in exploring investment opportunities and developing direct trade channels with the East African country.
The Ugandan envoy said that despite longstanding diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Uganda, bilateral relations needed to be translated into greater trade and investment. He noted that Uganda’s Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Strategy 2025 had given its diplomatic missions a clear mandate to promote trade, investment, business delegations and economic cooperation with friendly countries.
Ambassador Twaha proposed that a delegation of Pakistani businessmen visit Uganda in October for a week-long business forum and farm visits covering tea, coffee, cocoa, cotton and other agricultural commodities, besides exploring opportunities in minerals and other sectors.
He said the Ugandan side would facilitate the delegation throughout its visit, enabling Pakistani businessmen to tour farms and production facilities, interact directly with producers and assess the quality, supply potential and commercial viability of Ugandan products.
The envoy also proposed that the ICCI and the Uganda Chamber of Commerce establish a dedicated chamber-to-chamber mechanism to maintain regular business engagement, exchange draft memorandums of understanding and subsequently formalise institutional cooperation.
He further suggested organising the first Pakistan-Uganda trade exhibition in either Islamabad or Kampala to showcase products and bring exporters, importers and investors from both countries together.
ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood said Pakistan’s engagement with Africa could no longer remain limited to diplomatic goodwill and should evolve into a dynamic partnership based on trade, investment, technology and shared prosperity.
He said reported Pakistani exports to Uganda stood at around $4 million in 2025, while imports were approximately $9.3 million, putting the reported bilateral trade volume at around $13.2 million.
Tahir identified rice, pharmaceuticals, textiles, surgical and medical equipment, sports goods and engineering products as promising Pakistani exports to Uganda. In return, Uganda could supply coffee, tea, cotton and other agricultural commodities to Pakistan.
“Diplomacy can open the doors, but business walks through it,” he said, emphasising the need for greater private-sector engagement to convert diplomatic relations into tangible economic cooperation.
Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan to Uganda Bilal Mohsin said the initiative had emerged from discussions held over the past several months aimed at bringing the business communities of Pakistan and Uganda closer.
He said Uganda was offering a 10-year tax holiday, while greenfield investors could benefit from tax incentives extendable for up to 25 years, making the country an attractive destination for Pakistani investors seeking opportunities in emerging African markets.
Former ICCI President and Chairman of the ICCI Standing Committee on Diplomatic Affairs Zafar Bakhtawari said the chamber had consistently advocated stronger Pakistan-Africa relations and organised Africa Day annually to bring African heads of mission and Pakistani policymakers together.
He proposed exploring direct air connectivity between Pakistan and Kampala to facilitate trade, tourism and business exchanges. He also urged Uganda to consider establishing a diplomatic mission in Islamabad.
Bakhtawari said sustained chamber-to-chamber and people-to-people engagement could open a new chapter in Pakistan-Uganda relations and transform longstanding diplomatic friendship into a durable partnership focused on trade, investment and shared prosperity.
The ICCI Senior Vice President, who moderated the session, also highlighted the trade and investment potential between the two countries and stressed the importance of expanding business-to-business contacts.
Those attending the meeting included ICCI Vice President Irfan Chaudhry, Executive Committee members Waseem Chaudhry, Imran Minhas and Zulqurnain Abbasi, former Senior Vice President Khalid Chaudhry, ICCI member Zia Abbasi and other members of the business community.
