The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, is holding a strategic retreat in Istanbul, Türkiye.
The retreating that opened on June 21 will run up to 25, 2026 and is aimed at advancing Uganda’s trade and investment interests in the Gulf and Middle East regions.
Held under the theme, “Unlocking Uganda’s Trade and Investment Potential through Economic and Commercial Diplomacy (ECD),” the retreat has brought together officials from Uganda’s missions in Riyadh, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ankara to review their Economic and Commercial Diplomacy activities, assess performance, and align priorities with Uganda’s national economic objectives for the 2026/27 financial year.
Opening the retreat, Ambassador Henry Mayega, Head of the International Economic Cooperation Department, highlighted the increased funding and support provided by the Ministry of Finance over the past two financial years.
He noted that the investment reflects government recognition of the critical role played by Uganda’s foreign missions in driving the country’s socio-economic transformation.
“Missions have received improved funding and are therefore encouraged to prioritise achievable targets and focus on activities with measurable and tangible outcomes,” Mayega said.
Ambassador Richard Kabonero, Head of the newly established Economic and Commercial Diplomacy Hub, outlined ongoing efforts to address challenges such as coordination gaps, limited stakeholder engagement, and inadequate trade information.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening reporting mechanisms and aligning mission activities with Uganda’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy, the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), and Vision 2040.
Kabonero said these measures are intended to maximize the contribution of Uganda’s missions to tourism promotion, trade expansion, investment attraction, and overall economic growth.
The retreat also featured a presentation on the strategic outlook of the Middle East region by Joseph Enyimu, Commissioner for Economic Policy Development and Research at the Ministry of Finance. The presentation was aimed at enhancing the missions’ understanding of emerging opportunities and improving alignment with national development priorities.
“We are building the capacity of our diplomats and stakeholders while also providing feedback on the half-year performance for FY2025/26 and work plans for FY2026/27 to the Ministry of Finance,” Kabonero said.
Uganda’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Nusura Tiperu, who hosted the retreat in Istanbul, commended the strong partnership between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance in advancing Uganda’s economic development agenda.
She described Istanbul as a strategic global trade hub linking Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, making it an ideal venue for reviewing progress and strengthening cooperation among Uganda’s diplomatic missions.
The Istanbul meeting concludes a series of regional reviews conducted earlier this year for Uganda’s missions in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe and the Americas, underscoring a broader effort to enhance the effectiveness of Uganda’s economic diplomacy across the world.
