Uganda’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Zaake Wanume Kibedi, has attributed the sharp rise in investment from the UAE to deliberate economic diplomacy and structured engagement platforms that connect investors to opportunities in Uganda.
Speaking at the Metro Cement product launch held at the Serena Hotel in Kampala on Thursday, Ambassador Kibedi said foreign direct investment (FDI) from the UAE had grown more than tenfold over the last seven years.
“When I reported to the UAE in 2018, foreign direct investment from the UAE to Uganda was valued at about USD 300 million. Today, it stands at USD 3.5 billion,” Kibedi said. “This growth would not have been possible without companies like Metro Cement and strong collaboration between the Uganda Embassy in the UAE and the UAE Embassy in Kampala.”
Kibedi noted that the increase in investment was driven by targeted platforms such as the Uganda–UAE Business Forum, which Uganda launched in 2017 to promote trade, investment and partnerships.
“If you want businesses to know your country, you must create platforms where businesses can meet other businesses,” he said. “That is why we started the Uganda–UAE Business Forum, and the results are now visible.”
According to the ambassador, the forums have not only attracted capital but also helped position Uganda as a reliable supplier of exports to the Gulf market. He revealed that the UAE had recently become Uganda’s leading export destination.
“Since September this year, the UAE has—for the first time in history—become Uganda’s number one export destination,” Kibedi said. “Last year alone, Uganda exported goods worth USD 1.3 billion to the UAE, with 50 percent of those exports being agricultural products.”
He added that improved market access, combined with government programmes such as the Parish Development Model, could significantly expand Uganda’s export footprint, provided challenges around quality and consistency are addressed.
Kibedi also underscored the employment impact of UAE-backed investments, citing Metro Cement’s expanded production facility as a clear example. “I visited the factory and found many Ugandans working there. With the expansion, the number of workers is expected to triple because the factory has been expanded threefold,” he said.
Linking investment to Uganda’s long-term development agenda, Kibedi said industrialisation was central to achieving the country’s ambition of growing the economy tenfold under Vision 2030–2040.
“When you establish a factory like this in Uganda, it reduces the cost of construction, creates jobs and supports broader economic transformation,” he said.
He thanked investors for choosing Uganda as a destination and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting value-adding industries. “On behalf of the Government of Uganda, we thank you for trusting our country. Investments like this are exactly what we need to drive industrialisation and inclusive growth,” Kibedi said.
Metro Cement executives said the expanded plant had been custom-designed for Ugandan raw materials and operating conditions.
Group Director Shamil Razack noted that advanced milling systems, automated PLC and SCADA controls, and modern packing technology would guarantee high-quality cement and faster loading times. “This investment is about quality, efficiency and supporting Uganda’s development agenda,” Razack said.
Metro Cement Chairman Nowfu Hameed reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to Uganda and the wider region.
“In this country and across Africa, we have many plans. Inshallah, we shall continue working together to build a better future for Uganda and the region,” Hameed said.
“We started in 2019, producing cement primarily for the Ugandan market. Housing in Uganda drives the major demand for cement, as most Ugandans focus on construction. With the country opening up to foreign projects and accompanying infrastructure development, cement consumption is expected to rise,” said Mohamed Ameer, CEO of Metro Cement Ltd.
The Metro Cement event brought together senior government officials, diplomats and private sector leaders to mark the company’s expanded production line, further highlighting the growing role of UAE investment in Uganda’s industrial sector.
