Business 18 September 2026 Nile Post
Uganda Seeks US Investment Through "Trade Over Aid" Initiative and Roosevelt Africa Trail
Uganda is leveraging the "Trade Over Aid – Deals Showcase" and the Roosevelt Africa Trail initiative to attract US investment, focusing on potential commercial transactions in tourism, agriculture, and technology. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/371545/uganda-eyes-us-investment-as-trade-over-aid-initiative-enters-deal-making-phase
Uganda is actively pursuing increased trade, investment, tourism, and technology partnerships with the United States, utilizing the Roosevelt Africa Trail initiative as a key platform. These efforts are being highlighted during economic diplomacy engagements on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week.
The focus is shifting towards tangible commercial transactions, with the upcoming “Trade Over Aid – Deals Showcase” in New York on September 25th. This event aims to connect participating countries with US businesses, financial institutions, and international organizations for potential deals, Letters of Intent, and Memoranda of Understanding. The initiative specifically targets high-impact commercial projects valued at $50 million or more.
Uganda’s involvement in the “Trade Over Aid” initiative began at its launch in April 2026, with the country’s engagement now linked to the broader goal of using the Roosevelt Africa Trail to foster connections with US investors and businesses. The trail, inspired by Theodore Roosevelt’s 1909–1910 East African expedition, seeks to merge historical tourism with conservation, cultural exchange, trade, and investment opportunities.
Discussions have centered on potential investments in tourism infrastructure, agriculture, conservation, heritage, and technology. US Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council, Ambassador Dan Negrea, has expressed support for integrating the Roosevelt Africa Trail into the emerging deals framework. Proposed areas for collaboration include hospitality, agricultural exports, and technology partnerships.
While the Roosevelt Africa Trail aims to create a complementary heritage and tourism experience to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota, its success hinges on converting diplomatic momentum into measurable outcomes. Uganda’s immediate opportunity is to present commercially viable projects to potential US partners during the upcoming engagements, aiming to secure the necessary financing and agreements to move beyond proposals to implementation.