Antalya, Türkiye – Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, has called for increased and strategic investment in Africa’s critical sectors while representing the country at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2026) held from April 17–19.
Attending at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart, H.E. Hakan Fidan, Hon. Odongo was a featured panelist and delivered a keynote address titled “Investing in Africa’s Future: Strategy, Scale and Competitiveness.” In his remarks, he emphasised the need for targeted investments to drive socioeconomic transformation across the continent and boost Africa’s global competitiveness. He reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to positioning itself as an attractive investment destination, particularly within the frameworks of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and regional integration initiatives.
On the sidelines of the forum, Hon. Odongo held high-level talks with Minister Fidan, where both sides reaffirmed the strong and longstanding relations between Uganda and Türkiye. Discussions focused on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, and development partnerships. The two ministers underscored the importance of translating diplomatic goodwill into concrete projects, with particular emphasis on value addition, industrialisation, and leveraging Uganda’s access to regional markets such as COMESA and AfCFTA to attract Turkish investors.
Trade between the two countries has grown steadily in recent years. Uganda’s exports to Türkiye increased from USD 40 million in 2019 to USD 91 million in 2023, largely driven by agricultural products including coffee and cocoa. Coffee exports alone saw a significant surge, with volumes rising from 120 tons in 2019 to 2,640 tons in 2024. Meanwhile, Türkiye’s exports to Uganda reached USD 50.92 million in 2024.
Hon. Odongo also used the forum to broaden Uganda’s diplomatic outreach through bilateral engagements with other international partners. In talks with H.E. Azamat Kadyraliev, Special Envoy of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, both sides pledged to strengthen cooperation in multilateral platforms such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement. Plans were also discussed to formalise cooperation through Memoranda of Understanding and reciprocal high-level visits.
Engagements with Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, focused on deepening economic ties and enhancing regional integration. Both countries highlighted the importance of infrastructure development and connectivity in facilitating trade and investment. The recent introduction of Uganda Airlines flights between Entebbe and Lusaka was cited as a practical step toward improving economic and people-to-people linkages between the two nations.
Uganda’s participation in ADF2026 delivered key diplomatic and economic gains, including reinforcing its strategic partnership with Türkiye, initiating structured engagement with the Kyrgyz Republic, and strengthening regional cooperation with Zambia. The engagements reflect Uganda’s broader strategy of proactive multilateral diplomacy aimed at converting dialogue into actionable partnerships that support national and continental development goals. Hon. Odongo was accompanied by Uganda’s Ambassador to Türkiye, H.E. Nusura Tiperu, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Courtesy Photos
