The Uganda International Trade Fair 2026 has been launched at the UMA Showgrounds in Lugogo with organisers introducing “Black Deals” for the first time as they seek to increase commercial transactions during the 10-day exhibition.
The 32nd Uganda International Trade Fair will run from October 2 to 11, 2026, under the theme “Formalising Trade to Secure Uganda’s Economic Future.”
The new initiative is intended to strengthen business linkages and encourage more commercial activity during the exhibition.
The organisers have not, however, released details explaining how “Black Deals” will work, including which businesses will participate, what discounts may be offered or whether there will be specific eligibility requirements.
The launch comes as organisers position the Uganda business exhibition as a platform for companies, entrepreneurs, investors and innovators to establish connections and pursue new commercial opportunities.More than 1,000 exhibitors from over 30 countries are expected to participate, according to Uganda Manufacturers Association Board Chairman Aga Sekalala Jr.
Organisers also project that at least 150,000 visitors will attend the event.
The commercial expectations surrounding the Uganda International Trade Fair 2026 are significant, with Sekalala projecting that onsite sales and commercial transactions will exceed Shs10 billion.
The figure does not include the longer-term value expected from distributorships, supply contracts, investment leads, technology partnerships and export relationships that could originate at the exhibition.
“We project that onsite sales and commercial transactions will exceed Shs10 billion, before counting the longer-term value of distributorships, supply contracts, investment leads, technology partnerships and export relationships initiated at the fair,”
The fair will bring together businesses and organisations working in manufacturing, agriculture, technology, finance, education, health and trade services.
The organisers say participating businesses will have opportunities to showcase their products, launch offerings, network and engage in business-to-business matchmaking.
The exhibition will also connect local enterprises with international partners and investors.
For Ugandan businesses, the event is intended to provide avenues for accessing new markets, securing partnerships and presenting products and services to both domestic and international buyers.
The theme of this year’s fair places business formalisation at the centre of the exhibition.
Sekalala said formalisation matters for enterprises that want to access finance, comply with standards and expand into wider markets.
He argued that formalisation goes beyond registering a business or meeting taxation requirements.
“Formalisation is not only about registration or taxation; it is about making enterprises visible, bankable, standards-compliant and ready to grow,”
“The trade fair will help businesses move from informal transactions to structured partnerships and wider markets.”
The focus on formalisation also gives the event a wider connection to Uganda’s economic ambitions.The Fact Sheet states that Uganda aims to grow its economy from about USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040.
The source connects that ambition to production, innovation, value addition, enterprise and market access.
The trade fair is therefore being positioned as one platform where businesses can pursue some of those commercial connections through networking, investment and market opportunities.
The trade fair also carries a connection to the history of Uganda’s manufacturing sector through the Mulwana family.
Barbara Mulwana of Mulwana Group of Companies said the exhibition remains important for turning regional business ambitions into commercial relationships.
“The trade fair, therefore, does not simply show what Uganda has already produced. It helps create the demand, connections and confidence that will determine what Uganda produces next,”
Mulwana also reflected on the contribution of her late father, James Mulwana, to Uganda’s manufacturing sector. She said he believed strongly in Uganda’s economic success and prosperity.
“When he helped to revive the Uganda Manufacturers Association, his vision was to help create an environment in which Ugandan manufacturers could succeed. We must be proud that, decades later, that vision continues,”
The 2026 exhibition will extend beyond manufacturing to include agriculture, technology, finance, education, health and trade services.
An Agricultural Pavilion will connect farmers, cooperatives and processors. An Education Pavilion will showcase research, innovation and practical skills.
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards is also participating, with its focus covering standards, quality, safety and conformity assessment.
UNBS said these areas are intended to support businesses, protect consumers and improve the competitiveness of Ugandan products in local, regional and international markets.
The 32nd Uganda International Trade Fair is scheduled to open at the UMA Showgrounds in Lugogo on October 2 and continue through October 11.
The exhibition will feature “Black Deals” for the first time alongside product launches, networking, business-to-business matchmaking and other commercial activities.
Organisers expect more than 1,000 exhibitors from over 30 countries and at least 150,000 visitors.The projected Shs10 billion in onsite sales and commercial transactions remains an expectation rather than an amount already generated.
For now, the Uganda International Trade Fair 2026 is set to combine business networking, investment, product promotion and market access, while the introduction of “Black Deals” gives this year’s edition a new commercial feature.
