By: Diana. N. Kintu
The inaugural Kampala Business Forum 2025 convened today at the Kampala Serena Hotel, bringing together key stakeholders from government and the private sector to deliberate on Uganda’s development priorities and strategies for accelerating economic growth. The high-level forum was officiated by H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who attended as Chief Guest and in his capacity as Patron of the Presidential CEO Forum (PCF) Uganda, the organisers of the event.
The forum was established as a platform to promote structured dialogue between the public and private sectors, with the aim of shaping policies and partnerships that can deliver a more prosperous and inclusive economic future for Uganda. Participants discussed practical approaches to strengthening industrialisation, improving the business environment and ensuring sustainable growth across all sectors of the economy.
During the discussions, the Presidential CEO Forum Uganda commended the Government of Uganda for its deliberate and focused efforts to fast-track industrial growth and drive an industrial revolution. According to PCF Uganda, the country has registered notable progress in recent years, as evidenced by the visible expansion of infrastructure across key economic sectors.
The Forum highlighted significant gains in power generation capacity, which have improved energy availability and reliability for industries and businesses. Members also pointed to the rapid expansion of industrial parks across different regions of the country, providing space and incentives for manufacturing, value addition and investment. In addition, advancements in information and communication technology infrastructure were cited as critical enablers of efficiency, innovation and competitiveness in the modern economy.
PCF Uganda noted that these developments have laid a solid foundation for businesses to operate more efficiently and to meaningfully contribute to Uganda’s broader economic transformation agenda. The improved infrastructure, the Forum observed, has reduced operational bottlenecks and strengthened the country’s attractiveness as an investment destination.
Delivering key remarks, PCF Uganda Chairman Mr Emmanuel Katongole applauded the government for establishing and maintaining peace and security, which he described as the most critical prerequisites for economic prosperity. He emphasised that a stable and secure environment is the cornerstone upon which business confidence, investment decisions and long-term economic growth are built.
Mr Katongole urged the business community to recognise peace and security not merely as background conditions, but as strategic assets that must be protected and leveraged to advance national development. He noted that without stability, efforts to industrialise and grow the economy would be difficult to sustain.
The PCF Chairman also challenged Ugandan entrepreneurs to develop a deep passion for the country’s economic growth and to actively participate in shaping a strong and functional market structure. He stressed that the emergence and expansion of the middle class is a key indicator of market maturity and economic progress.
According to Mr Katongole, the growing middle class has led to a shift in the business landscape, with local traders increasingly relying on profits generated directly from their enterprises rather than on external support. This trend, he said, underscores the importance of producing high-quality local goods, strengthening domestic value chains and upholding ethical business practices that can sustain consumer confidence.
Discussions at the forum consistently returned to the importance of effective collaboration between the public and private sectors as a driver of national transformation. Participants agreed that while government plays a central role in providing policy direction, infrastructure and stability, the private sector must act as an active partner in innovation, investment and job creation.
The consensus emerging from the Kampala Business Forum 2025 was that Uganda’s sustained economic growth will depend on continued investment in industrial and digital infrastructure, a vibrant and committed entrepreneurial class, and the preservation of peace and security as the foundation of development. Together, these elements were identified as essential to building a resilient, inclusive and consumer-driven economy capable of supporting the country’s growing middle-class population.Top of Form