By our reporter,
KAMPALA,
Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will next week convene the Uganda-DRC Business Connect Forum and Expo in Butembo, aimed at boosting trade and investment between the two countries. The two-day event runs from 30 September to 1 October 2025, with arrivals on 29 September and departures on 2 October.
Organized jointly by the Government of Uganda (GoU) and the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), the Forum will bring together government officials, business associations, chambers of commerce, investors, manufacturers, and exporters from both countries to explore trade opportunities and strengthen bilateral business ties.
“Uganda and DRC share a long history of collaboration in diplomacy, security, and regional development. This Forum provides a platform for the private sector to unlock opportunities, address trade barriers, and consolidate growing business links,” said event organizers.
Trade between the two countries largely occurs through Uganda’s eastern border points, with Mpondwe in Kasese district being the busiest, followed by Bunagana in Kisoro and Goli in Nebbi. Uganda’s main exports to DRC include cereals, edible fats and oils, cement, sugar, beverages, plastics, and iron and steel products. Uganda’s exports to DRC increased from US$267.2 million in 2020 to US$478.3 million in 2024, while DRC exports to Uganda rose from US$23.8 billion to US$59.7 billion during the same period, according to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the International Trade Centre (ITC).
The Forum will feature business presentations, panel discussions, and a business-to-business Expo, providing a platform for networking, investment promotion, and the exchange of trade information. Participants will also engage with government and regulatory bodies, including URA, Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), immigration authorities, and export promotion agencies, to streamline trade processes and address non-tariff barriers.
Previous initiatives include the inaugural Uganda-DRC Business Forum in Kinshasa in 2022 and a Round Table Business engagement in 2023, which attracted over 100 enterprises from North Kivu. The upcoming Butembo Forum is expected to attract more than 50 Ugandan enterprises to engage with DRC counterparts from Beni, Butembo, Kisangani, Goma, and Bukavu.
The Uganda-DRC Business Connect Forum and Expo is expected to strengthen trade linkages, expand market access for goods and services, and foster private sector partnerships, contributing to economic growth in both countries.
