Overview:

Uganda’s Finance Ministry has pledged increased support for foreign missions in Africa to drive a tenfold growth strategy and boost national exports.

MOMBASA, Kenya — Uganda has launched a sweeping diplomatic overhaul to capture the 1.5 billion-person African market, shifting its foreign missions from political outposts to economic engines for growth.

The strategy, detailed during a mid-term review at the Bamburi Beach Hotel this week, aims to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area to drive a ten-fold increase in the national economy.

Ramathan Ggoobi, the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Finance and secretary to the treasury, told diplomats that Uganda’s comparative advantage lies first in Africa. He noted the continent represents a $3 billion market value that missions must actively exploit.

Each engagement must be evaluated through one filter: Does this effort create market access for Uganda, Ggoobi said.

The shift follows the August 2025 launch of the Economic and Commercial Diplomacy strategy in Gulu. Permanent Secretary Bagiire Vincent Waiswa said missions are now mandated to produce economic value by growing exports, attracting investment and gathering market intelligence over the next five years.

To support this mission, the government has established a dedicated research hub and secretariat. These bodies will quality-assure the data diplomats use to market Ugandan products and ensure they have the research capabilities to compete internationally.

Bagiire also announced that foreign service officers will receive in-house capacity building through an inter-ministerial committee. This includes direct experience at various government agencies to ensure diplomats are experts in the products they are marketing abroad.

Ggoobi emphasized that the government is treating the review as an investment decision. He said the Ministry of Finance would scale up funding for missions that show results while redesigning efforts that fail to create market access.

The review meeting identified four priorities to secure this market share: clear commercial targets, specific sector priorities, identified buyers and measurable work plans.

Finance officials said the alignment of diplomacy with commerce is expected to significantly increase national wealth over the next 15 years.