EU-funded project to boost trade, investment and green jobs in Uganda

Implementation has begun on a new four-year initiative aimed at driving sustainable economic growth, enhancing trade and investment, and creating green and decent jobs in Uganda.

The Sustainable Business for Uganda (SB4U) 2.0 – Trade and Investment Development Project, funded by the European Union (EU), will run from 2024 to 2028. With a budget of €8 million (UGX 33 billion), the project seeks to strengthen Uganda’s regional and international competitiveness.

Led by the International Trade Centre (ITC), the initiative aligns with Uganda’s development priorities of fostering an inclusive, digital, and knowledge-based economy. It is also designed to deepen trade and investment ties with the EU—leveraging Uganda’s longstanding tariff-free access to the European market.

The project includes critical components on trade policy and facilitation, which aim to improve Uganda’s trade flows with neighboring countries and support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It will also contribute to policy reforms, enhance competitiveness, promote green and sustainable business practices, and expand Uganda’s e-commerce landscape.

Following a six-month inception phase that began in 2024, broad stakeholder consultations have laid the groundwork for implementation focused on public-private collaboration. Priority sectors include tourism, logistics, and grains.

Francis Mwebesa, Uganda’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, emphasized the strategic importance of the project:

“This initiative enables the Government of Uganda to better support our private sector in seizing opportunities across regional and global markets. It directly contributes to our National Development Plan IV goals of increasing household incomes, full monetization of the economy, and employment-led socio-economic transformation. We also see this project as a key contributor to our tenfold growth strategy to expand Uganda’s economy from USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040.”

Sanne Willems, Team Leader at the EU Delegation to Uganda, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment:

“The EU is proud to strengthen its longstanding partnership with Uganda through the SB4U Team Europe Initiative. With this €8 million investment, we aim to enhance Uganda’s trade and investment profile, particularly in the tourism, logistics, and grains sectors, bringing high-value Ugandan products even closer to the lucrative EU market.”

Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of ITC, underscored the project’s broader impact:

“As we advance into the second phase of this project, we expect to see a stronger, more sustainable trade relationship between Uganda and the EU—one centered on digital connectivity, sustainability, and job creation. This will empower more Ugandan small businesses to grow, export, and generate employment.”

The SB4U 2.0 project is part of the broader Team Europe Initiative, supporting Uganda’s transformation into a globally competitive, inclusive, and environmentally responsible economy.