By Wamala Sipirian
Published: September 30, 2026
Uganda is seeking increased Italian investment in manufacturing, agro-processing, energy and pharmaceuticals as it moves to diversify a bilateral trade relationship heavily dominated by coffee.
Uganda exported goods worth $776.22 million to Italy in 2025, compared with imports valued at $103.38 million, according to trade data contained in the concept note for the first Uganda-Italy Business and Investment Forum.
The value of Uganda’s exports to Italy was therefore about 7.5 times the country’s imports from Italy during the year.
Coffee Dominates Uganda’s Exports
Coffee remains at the centre of Uganda’s trade relationship with Italy.
Coffee, tea, mate and spices accounted for $682.88 million, or about 88% of Uganda’s exports to Italy in 2025.
Cocoa and cocoa preparations contributed $55.99 million, while fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic products accounted for $22.72 million.
The government plans to use the Uganda-Italy Business and Investment Forum, scheduled for October 13-14 in Rome, to attract investment that could broaden the range of goods and services traded between the two countries.
Uganda’s Ambassador to Italy Elizabeth Paula Napeyok said the forum would bring together government representatives, investors, business leaders, financial institutions, development partners and private-sector actors.
“This business forum will take place in Italy, Rome, from 13th to 14th of October. The forum will bring together Uganda and Italian government representatives, investors, business leaders, financial institutions, development partners and private sector actors to explore opportunities for increased investment, trade, technology transfer and business partnerships between the two countries,” Napeyok said.
She said Uganda would use the forum to position the country as a production and investment base for the wider regional market.
“The forum seeks to attract Italian investment in Uganda, promote Uganda products and services to the Italian market, promote technology and knowledge transfer,” she said.
Italy Remains Uganda’s Major Coffee Market
Italy is already Uganda’s largest coffee market.
Uganda exported 103,119 tonnes of coffee to Italy in 2024, generating about $426 million. That represented roughly 27.5% of Uganda’s total coffee export earnings that year.
Between June 2024 and May 2025, Uganda exported 7.43 million 60-kilogramme bags of coffee worth $2.09 billion, up from 6.08 million bags in the preceding 12 months. Italy accounted for 39% of those exports.
The concentration continued into 2026. Italy accounted for 29.3% of Uganda’s coffee export receipts in July 2026, when Uganda exported 846,686 bags globally worth $204.94 million.
Uganda Seeks More Diversified Trade
While Uganda’s exports to Italy are concentrated in agricultural commodities, its imports from the European country cover a wider range of products.
In 2025, Uganda imported machinery, nuclear reactors and boilers worth $55.95 million from Italy. Electrical and electronic equipment accounted for $10.80 million, while aircraft and spacecraft were valued at $5.04 million and articles of iron or steel at $4.96 million.
Pharmaceutical imports from Italy were valued at $3.77 million.
The Rome forum will therefore focus on sectors including health and pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, oil and gas, agro-industry, agro-mechanisation, value-added manufacturing and industrial parks.
The organisers also plan to promote a proposed “Made with Italy in Uganda” model for Italian manufacturers.
Government Backs Economic Diplomacy
Ambassador Henry Mayega said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would support Uganda’s diplomatic missions in implementing the government’s economic and commercial diplomacy policy.
“All these developments are going to take us to a place where we want to be by 2040. We come in as Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support the diplomatic missions as they implement the policy of government of economic and commercial diplomacy,” Mayega said.
The two-day forum will feature sector roundtables, business-to-business and business-to-government meetings, networking sessions and factory visits.
The event will be held under the theme “Uganda-Italy Business and Investment Forum 2026: Unlocking Shared Prosperity.”