Oscar Kamukama: Regional Integration Must Be Private Sector-Led to Boost Uganda–Tanzania Trade
Uganda–Tanzania trade integration took center stage at the launch of the Uganda–Tanzania Trade Mission 2025 as Oscar Kamukama, Board Member of the East African Business Council (EABC), called for deeper collaboration and private sector leadership to unlock the region’s full economic potential.
Speaking during the official unveiling held at Four Points Hotel in Kampala on April 7, Kamukama described the mission as a “strategic intervention” to reinforce commercial partnerships and expand market access between the two nations.
“Together, Uganda and Tanzania represent a consumer market of more than 130 million people, projected to exceed 150 million by 2030. We must seize this opportunity,” Kamukama said.
He also highlighted the economic weight both countries carry—Tanzania with a GDP of $85 billion and Uganda with $50 billion—urging businesses to leverage this economic foundation for mutual prosperity.
The week-long trade mission is a collaborative effort by the Uganda High Commission in Dar es Salaam, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), and the EABC Secretariat. It brings together over 25 Tanzanian companies for a series of B2B matchmaking events, industrial visits, and policy-level dialogues.
Kamukama revealed that in 2022, Tanzania was Uganda’s fifth-largest source of imports, amounting to over $300 million, while Uganda exported goods worth $170 million to its southern neighbor. Key Ugandan exports include sugar, cement, paper products, and animal feeds, while Tanzania’s main exports to Uganda comprise petroleum products, cereals, salt, and manufactured goods.
“These numbers demonstrate strong ties, but they also highlight the untapped potential for growth and diversification,” Kamukama emphasized.
He further urged stakeholders to align regional trade efforts with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which he noted opens up access to a unified market of more than 1.4 billion people.
“At EABC, our vision is a borderless East Africa where business can thrive. For this to work, the private sector must lead—with public institutions playing a supportive role,” he added.
The trade mission, held under the theme “Building Stronger Trade Partnerships for Long-Term Prosperity,” gathered policymakers, development partners, and business leaders from both countries. Kamukama challenged attendees to turn the week’s conversations into actionable outcomes, from trade deals to policy reforms.
“Let this be more than just meetings. Let it produce tangible partnerships that can transform our economies,” he concluded.
With renewed energy behind bilateral cooperation, the Uganda–Tanzania Trade Mission sets a promising tone for regional growth—anchored in strategic collaboration and led by the power of the private sector.
