Uganda Poised to Deepen Ties with India at New Delhi Summit

Uganda is preparing to participate actively in the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV) in New Delhi from May 28-31, 2026. This pivotal event is expected to reaffirm and strengthen the deep-rooted partnership between India and the African continent, with a particular focus on Uganda’s role.

The summit’s theme, ‘IA SPIRIT: India Africa Strategic Partnership for Innovation, Resilience and Inclusive Transformation,’ directly addresses the shared challenges faced by both India and Africa, including global supply chain disruptions, climate change, and health security.

India and Africa are increasingly viewed as key players in the Global South, sharing common development goals and advocating for a more equitable global order. The IAFS has served as the primary institutional framework for this engagement since 2008, evolving from simple summits to comprehensive cooperation agreements.

Uganda holds a special place in this relationship, notably as the location where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined key principles for India’s engagement with Africa in 2018, emphasizing African priorities. This historic connection is further solidified by strong bilateral ties in political, economic, defense, education, and cultural sectors.

A tangible symbol of this enhanced cooperation is the National Forensic Sciences University campus in Jinja, the first of its kind in Africa. This, along with defense training support and capacity-building scholarships, highlights a commitment to long-term development.

While trade between India and Uganda has surpassed $1 billion annually, there’s a strong drive to unlock further potential. Various trade events and joint committees are actively exploring opportunities in sectors like pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and digital services.

For Uganda, IAFS-IV presents a crucial opportunity to leverage existing political goodwill into concrete gains in trade, technology transfer, skills development, and investment. The summit is seen not just as a diplomatic event, but as a launchpad for the next decade of mutually beneficial India-Uganda and India-Africa cooperation, grounded in shared priorities and practical outcomes.

This article is based on information from the Daily Monitor.