The Uganda Free Zones and Export Promotion Authority (UFZEPA) has intensified efforts to strengthen Uganda’s export competitiveness by convening exporters, regulators, development partners and private sector stakeholders for a capacity-building workshop on United Kingdom market access requirements for capsicum and sesame exports.
The workshop, held at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel, was organized in response to enhanced import control measures under the UK’s retained Regulation 2019/1793, which imposes stricter inspection, testing and certification requirements on selected products, including capsicum and sesame from Uganda.
The engagement aimed to equip exporters with practical knowledge on compliance, food safety standards, traceability systems, phytosanitary certification and quality assurance measures necessary to maintain and expand access to the lucrative UK market.
Representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Mr. Deogratius Masagazi emphasized the critical role exports play in Uganda’s economic transformation and urged exporters to prioritize compliance with international standards.
He noted that Uganda’s exports of goods and services had grown significantly over the past five years, reaching USD 18.04 billion in the twelve months to March 2026.
“Maintaining this growth requires continuous investment in quality, standards and compliance. Access to international markets is increasingly determined by our ability to meet stringent market requirements and consistently deliver quality products,” Masagazi said.
He added that export promotion remains a key pillar in government’s strategy to grow Uganda’s economy ten-fold by 2040 through industrialization, value addition and increased participation in regional and global trade.
UFZEPA Executive Director, Mr. Hez Kimoomi Alinda, highlighted the importance of safeguarding Uganda’s reputation in international markets, describing compliance as a strategic business advantage.
“Capsicum and sesame are important export commodities that support thousands of farmers, processors, aggregators and exporters across the country. Every export consignment carries Uganda’s reputation. A single interception at a foreign border can undermine buyer confidence and market opportunities,” Alinda said.
He reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to supporting exporters through market intelligence, capacity building, business matchmaking and market access interventions aimed at improving Uganda’s export performance.
Speaking on behalf of the British High Commission, economist Christine Mugoya underscored the importance of the trade relationship between Uganda and the United Kingdom.
“The United Kingdom remains an important destination for Ugandan exports. Uganda’s exports to the UK reached approximately £475 million in 2025, demonstrating the strength and potential of our trading relationship.
Compliance with food safety and quality requirements is essential to sustaining this growth,” she said.
The workshop featured technical presentations from experts representing the UK’s Food Standards Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), the Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratory Services and private sector associations.
Discussions focused on export compliance, certification procedures, laboratory testing, traceability systems and practical measures to minimize the risk of border interceptions and export rejections.
Participants included horticultural and sesame exporters, farmer organizations, government agencies, laboratories, development partners and other private sector stakeholders.
