The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, in partnership with TradeMark Africa, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the United Kingdom and other development partners, has finalised preparations for the National Trade Sector Review Conference 2026 scheduled for this week.
According to a press release issued by the Uganda Media Centre, the high-level conference will take place from March 4 to 5 at Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo under the theme: “Trade-Driven Transformation: Propelling Uganda to a $500 Billion Economy by 2040.”
The conference is designed as a national platform to assess the performance of the trade, industry and cooperatives sector, evaluate progress in implementing past initiatives, and devise strategies to accelerate growth and structural transformation.
Officials say the meeting will provide a structured environment to align Uganda’s trade strategy with its long-term ambition of expanding the economy to $500 billion by 2040.
The gathering is expected to facilitate evidence-based dialogue and generate actionable policy recommendations to support the country’s tenfold growth strategy.
The review will be anchored on the government’s ATMS model, which prioritises Agro-industrialisation, Tourism development, Mineral development, and Science, Technology and Innovation as key drivers of economic transformation.
The conference is expected to convene between 250 and 350 participants drawn from government ministries, departments and agencies, private sector actors, small and medium enterprises, cooperatives, civil society organisations, development partners, regional trade bodies and media houses.
A major highlight of the conference will be the launch of the revised National Trade Policy. According to the statement, the policy has been updated to align with current global and regional economic shifts, including opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area, emerging regional markets, and an increased focus on value addition.
“The revised policy reflects the evolving trade landscape and seeks to position Uganda competitively within regional and international markets,” the statement noted.
In addition to the policy launch, the Ministry will unveil the National Trade Policy Development and Implementation Plan, the National Export Development Strategy, and an online reporting platform intended to strengthen monitoring and accountability in the sector.
These instruments are expected to guide regulatory reforms, enhance export promotion, improve competitiveness in services trade, support mineral-based industrialisation, scale up agro-industrial value chains, and expand cooperative-led trade initiatives.
Officials say the reforms will also emphasise the role of trade policy in promoting product quality, standards compliance and orderly trade practices, which are critical for accessing regional and global markets.
The Ministry expressed confidence that the conference outcomes will shape the direction of Uganda’s trade and industrial policy framework and strengthen collaboration between government and private sector stakeholders.
The National Trade Sector Review Conference is part of broader efforts to ensure that trade remains central to Uganda’s economic transformation agenda as the country works towards achieving middle-income status and long-term development targets.