Equity Group Roadshow Aims to Boost Uganda-Rwanda Trade and Investment

The 2026 Uganda-Rwanda Trade and Investment Roadshow, spearheaded by Equity Group, has convened a diverse group of over 150 participants from 10 nationalities. This initiative brings together business leaders, investors, policymakers, and private sector players with the express goal of identifying and nurturing opportunities for enhanced cross-border trade and investment throughout East Africa.

Uganda’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Sanjay Tanna, emphasized the critical need for increased investment in value addition, manufacturing, innovation, and skills development to accelerate Uganda’s economic growth. He urged Equity Bank to expand its support to entrepreneurs, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises operating outside major urban centers, and to bolster financial literacy and market access for these businesses.

“I encourage Equity to build on this legacy in Uganda by going deeper into our communities, strengthening financial literacy and bookkeeping among small and micro businesses, and helping them access the finance and markets they need to grow,” Tanna stated, affirming the government’s readiness to collaborate with financial institutions to reduce investment barriers and foster job creation.

The roadshow is specifically targeting key sectors such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing, trade, and the coffee value chain. Equity Bank Uganda Executive Director, Claver Serumaga, highlighted that the event goes beyond mere financing, aiming to connect businesses with essential markets, technology, and strategic partnerships necessary for scaling across the region.

Serumaga stressed that Uganda possesses ample opportunities, but the crucial step is linking them to appropriate capital, markets, and technology. He advocated for a shift from exporting raw products to focusing on processing, technology, branding, and accessing regional and global markets to maximize local value retention.

Further elements of the program include a Uganda Coffee Value Chain Roundtable featuring prominent industry players, business networking sessions, and site visits to companies like Zigoti Coffee Farm, JNL Industries, and Roofings Uganda Limited. The Uganda leg of the roadshow is scheduled to conclude on September 16th, with participants then traveling to Kigali, Rwanda.

Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/370984/equity-group-roadshow-seeks-to-unlock-cross-border-trade-and-investment