Uganda, Zimbabwe Push for Action on Trade Deals

Uganda and Zimbabwe have called for a shift from dialogue to concrete trade and investment outcomes during the Zimbabwe–Uganda Business Forum held on March 18, 2026.

Leaders from both countries said the time for discussions has passed and urged stakeholders to prioritise implementation of agreements that deliver measurable economic results.

Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Affairs), John Mulimba, said the forum should produce tangible business outcomes.

“We are here to further the relations of our countries but most importantly to ensure that this engagement results in real business outcomes,” he said.

Uganda’s Resident Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Paul Amoru, echoed the call for practical results.

“We are here to deepen relations between our two countries, but more importantly to ensure that these engagements translate into real trade and investment,” Amoru said.

Zimbabwean officials, including representatives from the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), stressed the need to convert strong political ties into economic gains.

“We are here to ensure that our engagement moves beyond discussion and results in tangible trade and investment opportunities for both countries,” the Zimbabwean delegation said.

Both sides highlighted the importance of structured mechanisms such as Joint Permanent Commissions to improve coordination, facilitate trade, and unlock investment opportunities.

Connectivity and regional integration emerged as key concerns, with leaders pointing to persistent challenges in intra-African travel and logistics.

“It is still difficult to travel within Africa… sometimes you go through Europe or Dubai,” Ugandan representatives noted.

Zimbabwe’s Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade underscored the need for improved transport links.

“Improved direct air links and cargo routes are vital to streamline business and trade between Zimbabwe and Uganda,” the minister said.

Delegates identified agriculture, tourism, energy, infrastructure, and trade logistics as priority sectors for collaboration.

They emphasised value addition, joint ventures, and leveraging each country’s comparative advantages to boost trade.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was highlighted as a critical framework for expanding intra-African trade, with leaders calling for its full implementation to remove existing barriers.

Participants also stressed the role of the private sector and African-led investment in driving long-term economic transformation.

“We are one people; we must invest in our own continent and support each other to achieve transformation,” Mulimba said.

ZIDA representatives added that sustained engagement is key to turning ideas into results.

“The more we continue dialogue and joint initiatives, the more we convert ideas into real economic outcomes that benefit our nations,” they said.

The forum concluded with a unified call for stronger collaboration, structured implementation, and action-driven partnerships to unlock shared prosperity between Uganda and Zimbabwe.