NAIROBI, KENYA: Uganda’s Vice President, Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, arrived in Nairobi today to represent President Yoweri Museveni at the 24th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit taking place in Kenya.
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the Vice President was warmly received by Kenya’s Director for African Affairs Directorate, Lazarus Muganda; Uganda’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa; Ambassador Eunice Kigenyi; and Uganda’s Defense Attaché, Brig. Gen. McDans Kamugisha, among other dignitaries.
The COMESA meeting is being held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) under the theme: ‘Leveraging Digitization to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.’
The Vice President is expected to address the summit tomorrow on behalf of H.E. President Museveni. Kenya’s President, H.E. William Ruto, is expected to assume the role of Chairperson of the COMESA Authority for a one-year term.
The current Chair, Burundi’s President, H.E. Évariste Ndayishimiye, will hand over the chairmanship to President Ruto on October 9, 2025.
The summit began on Monday, October 6, and runs through October 9, with the COMESA-EU Horticulture Connect, which brought together buyers and horticulture producers from the European Union to interact with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), including women-owned businesses from the region.
This engagement aimed to strengthen the capacity of SMEs by introducing them to first-hand knowledge of EU market requirements, certification processes, and quality standards, ensuring they remain globally competitive.
Over the years, the COMESA Secretariat has organized trade missions for SMEs from Member States to participate in EU Business Partnership Dialogues. These dialogues aim to enhance market access by connecting SMEs with European buyers, investors, and trade facilitators.
These initiatives have helped SMEs secure export deals and expand their distribution networks. According to the COMESA Secretariat, such engagements have been highly beneficial and have contributed to improved business practices among SMEs.
The EU-COMESA Connect was followed by the 18th COMESA Business Forum and Exhibition, where more than 300 businesspeople from across the region gathered to share innovations, promote trade, showcase products, and form partnerships.
The COMESA Business Council Chief Executive Officer, Teddy Soobramanien, noted that the Business Forum offers a platform where business leaders, policymakers, innovators, and investors from across the region gather annually to network and explore ways of deepening trade and collaboration.
The 20th Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, being held today, October 8, 2025, will review the peace and security situation in the COMESA region and map out strategies for promoting peace, democracy, and dialogue in conflict resolution.
It brought together Ministers of Peace and Security, and participants received a detailed report on the current security situation. They were also given comprehensive information on the progress being made across the region.
