The European Union has pledged €50 million ($56.2 million) to support tourism and conservation in Uganda, alongside plans to deepen cooperation in trade, agricultural processing and mineral development. The funding comes as the bloc seeks to strengthen economic ties with Kampala and help the East African country capture more value from its natural resources and agricultural exports.

EU Ambassador to Uganda Jan Sadek announced the support during the Uganda-EU Partnership Dialogue on Oct. 14, which he co-chaired with President Yoweri Museveni. Sadek said the bloc wanted to remain a dependable partner as Uganda pursues its development ambitions, pointing to five decades of cooperation and opportunities for closer commercial ties.

Five decades of EU support

European assistance to Uganda over the past 50 years has reached about €20 billion ($22.5 billion), Sadek said. He stressed that the relationship should extend beyond governments to include businesses, institutions and young people, with both sides looking for practical ways to strengthen cooperation in the years ahead.

“Uganda’s voice matters. We ought to work together. We want to be reliable and predictable, working together with Uganda,” Sadek said, adding that the anniversary offered an opportunity to assess the partnership and determine its future priorities.

Uganda targets higher-value exports

Agricultural processing emerged as a key area for closer cooperation, with the EU emphasizing the need for Uganda to retain more of the economic benefits from its produce. Coffee, processed agricultural goods and chocolate were among the products Sadek identified as having potential to attract European investment and gain access to overseas markets.

The approach aligns with Uganda’s ambition to expand domestic manufacturing and processing rather than rely primarily on exporting raw commodities. Sadek cited Ugandan chocolate as an example of a product that could reach European consumers, while also highlighting opportunities in private sector development and mineral processing as the country works toward its 2040 development goals.

Trade talks target market access

The EU is Uganda’s largest trading partner outside Africa, with bilateral trade estimated at €2.4 billion ($2.7 billion) annually, according to the meeti g’s account. Uganda records a trade surplus of about €1 billion ($1.1 billion), underscoring the importance of maintaining access to European markets while expanding investment in higher-value goods.

Both sides agreed to establish a structured dialogue on improving the business environment and continue discussions on preserving Uganda’s favorable access to the European market, including through a possible Economic Partnership Agreement. The talks also covered investment under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, renewable energy and climate action.

Refugees and regional security

The discussions extended to refugee support, with Team Europe contributing more than €520 million ($584 million) toward refugee interventions in Uganda, according to the meeting’s account. Sadek also praised Uganda’s military contribution to African Union efforts in Somalia and its broader role in supporting regional stability.

The EU said it had provided nearly €2.8 billion ($3.1 billion) in support to Somalia since 2007, while encouraging Uganda to continue contributing to stability in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Both sides agreed to hold a dedicated security dialogue and discussed cooperation on disease control following Uganda’s response to Ebola.

Partnership dialogue to continue annually

The delegations also discussed Russia’s war against Ukraine, reaffirming their commitment to multilateral cooperation and international criminal justice institutions. The meeting brought together senior officials from both sides, including Uganda’s foreign affairs, defense, agriculture and trade representatives, alongside European ambassadors and other diplomatic officials.

The two sides agreed to hold the Uganda-EU Partnership Dialogue annually, providing a regular forum to review economic cooperation, investment opportunities, security concerns and development priorities.