By Caroline Nakire
Uganda and Italy are strengthening economic and technical cooperation, with particular emphasis on coffee development, trade, investment, infrastructure, healthcare and skills development.
The renewed focus on bilateral cooperation emerged during a meeting between President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Ambassador of Italy to Uganda, H.E. Mauro Massoni, who paid a courtesy call on the President at State House and briefed him on the progress of cooperation between the two countries.
President Museveni welcomed the ongoing engagements and expressed support for initiatives aimed at strengthening partnerships between Uganda and Italian companies.
A key area of cooperation is Uganda’s coffee sector, with discussions underway on a coffee development project aimed at supporting the industry and creating greater opportunities for farmers.
Coffee is one of Uganda’s major agricultural exports and provides livelihoods for thousands of farming households. Cooperation with Italy is expected to promote investment, value addition, technology transfer and access to wider markets across the coffee value chain.
Ambassador Massoni also informed President Museveni that an Italian delegation is expected to visit Uganda to advance discussions on areas of mutual interest.
The delegation will be led by the Secretary-General of Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whom President Museveni had previously met.
It is also expected to include representatives from Italy’s development and export finance sector, traders and business leaders.
During the visit, the delegation is expected to engage with Ugandan counterparts on investment opportunities and potential partnerships aimed at strengthening commercial relations between the two countries.
The delegation is also expected to participate in preparations for the groundbreaking of a Coffee House at Kyambogo University. The project is intended to promote cooperation in coffee development, education and skills development.
Trade and investment will also feature prominently during the forthcoming Uganda Business Forum, scheduled to take place in Rome in October.
The forum is expected to bring together Ugandan and Italian businesses to explore trade opportunities, investment prospects and potential commercial partnerships. Uganda’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives is expected to participate in the forum.
The forum will provide Uganda with an opportunity to showcase its investment potential and locally produced goods to Italian businesses, while promoting partnerships in sectors where Italian expertise, technology and capital can contribute to Uganda’s development priorities.
Infrastructure and investment opportunities also featured in the discussions, including the Tororo Cement project.
President Museveni expressed interest in initiatives that could strengthen Uganda’s regional transport and trade links, particularly through improved connections to the railway network towards Tanzania.
Enhanced railway connectivity could facilitate the movement of goods, improve access to regional markets and support cross-border trade, while contributing to more efficient transportation of agricultural produce and industrial goods.
Uganda–Italy cooperation also extends to healthcare and human capital development. Ambassador Massoni informed President Museveni that doctors from Lubowa Hospital are currently undertaking training in Italy.
The training programme highlights the broader scope of bilateral cooperation, extending beyond trade and investment to professional development, knowledge exchange and skills transfer.
The planned visit by the Italian delegation and the Uganda Business Forum in Rome are expected to provide further opportunities to translate ongoing bilateral engagements into practical economic partnerships.
Stronger engagement with Italian businesses and institutions could help Uganda attract investment, promote value addition, strengthen technical capacity and create new opportunities for businesses and farmers, particularly within the coffee value chain.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni meets with Italy’s Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Mauro Massoni, and members of his delegation during a courtesy call at State House.