The Ugandan government is intensifying its focus on economic diplomacy to accelerate national growth, hosting a high-level strategic retreat for its diplomatic missions in the Gulf and Middle East. The five-day summit, held in Istanbul, Türkiye, from June 21 to June 25, 2026, aims to recalibrate the country’s international trade and investment strategy.
Organized through a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the retreat is themed, “Unlocking Uganda’s Trade and Investment Potential through Economic and Commercial Diplomacy (ECD).” The meeting brings together senior officials from Uganda’s missions in Riyadh, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ankara to assess performance and align their activities with Uganda’s broader national objectives, including the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the ambitious Vision 2040.
During the opening session, Ambassador Henry Mayega, Head of the International Economic Cooperation Department, emphasized a shift in the government’s expectations for its missions abroad. Highlighting the increased funding provided by the Ministry of Finance over the past two years, Mayega urged diplomats to move beyond traditional administrative roles.
“Missions have received improved funding and are therefore encouraged to prioritise achievable targets and focus on activities with measurable and tangible outcomes,” Mayega stated.
The government’s mandate for these missions is clear: prioritize the attraction of foreign direct investment, expand export markets for Ugandan goods, and boost tourism. Ambassador Richard Kabonero, head of the recently established Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Hub, noted that the retreat is addressing previous bottlenecks, such as coordination gaps and a lack of reliable trade data.
The summit serves as a platform for diplomats to review progress against half-year performance targets for the 2025/26 financial year and finalize work plans for the 2026/27 cycle. The discussions are further informed by strategic briefings, including an analysis of the Middle East’s economic outlook provided by the Ministry of Finance.
Uganda’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Nusura Tiperu, praised the choice of Istanbul as the venue. As a strategic crossroads linking Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, the city provides an ideal backdrop for reviewing progress and fostering cooperation.
This Istanbul meeting marks the conclusion of a series of regional reviews that have covered Ugandan missions across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Europe, and the Americas, signaling a unified, global push toward the country’s “Ten-Fold Growth Strategy.”
