KAMPALA– Uganda has launched a new €8 million (UGX 33 billion) initiative aimed at boosting trade with the European Union (EU), promoting sustainable economic growth, and creating green jobs.
The four-year project, titled Sustainable Business for Uganda (SB4U) 2.0 – Trade and Investment Development, will run from 2024 to 2028.
Funded by the EU and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC), the project is designed to enhance Uganda’s competitiveness in regional and international markets. It aligns with the country’s vision of building an inclusive, digital, and knowledge-based economy.
Focusing on key sectors such as tourism, logistics, and grains, SB4U 2.0 will support trade policy reforms, expand e-commerce opportunities, and promote environmentally sustainable business practices. By strengthening trade ties with the EU—Uganda’s long-standing partner offering tariff-free market access—the project is expected to unlock new investment and export opportunities for local businesses.
The project’s initial six-month inception phase, which began in early 2024, involved extensive consultations with public and private sector stakeholders to ensure alignment with national priorities.
Uganda’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. Francis Mwebesa, emphasized the project’s alignment with the country’s broader development strategy:
“This initiative supports our goal of increasing household incomes, full monetization of the economy, and job creation. It will also contribute to our ambition of growing Uganda’s economy from USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040.”
Ms. Sanne Willems, Team Leader at the EU Delegation to Uganda, highlighted the EU’s continued commitment to Uganda: “Through this €8 million investment under the SB4U Team Europe Initiative, we aim to elevate Uganda’s trade and investment potential, particularly in tourism, logistics and grains. Our goal is to bring more of Uganda’s high-value products to the EU market.”
ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton noted the project’s emphasis on sustainability and digital inclusion: “Phase two of SB4U will deepen EU-Uganda trade ties and empower more small businesses to grow, export, and generate jobs while embracing green and digital solutions.”
