Equity Bank Uganda has officially launched a two-day trade and investment mission in Kampala, gathering more than 40 global investors to explore opportunities for boosting local investment and expanding market access for Uganda’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The international delegation—representing regions including Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East—arrived in Uganda following similar engagements in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, Tanzania. This mission forms part of Equity Group Holdings’ broader Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP), which is designed to advance cross-border trade, strengthen regional production networks, and foster sustainable economic growth throughout the continent.
“Our goal is to match international capital with local enterprise to unlock growth opportunities in Uganda and Tanzania,” said Dr. James Mwangi, CEO and Managing Director of Equity Group. “We are focused on trade and investment initiatives that promote inclusive development, job creation, and value chain transformation.”
The Kampala event includes a series of business-to-business meetings, panel sessions, investment forums, and engagements with government stakeholders. Delegates are exploring promising sectors such as agribusiness, renewable energy, tourism, infrastructure, manufacturing, and financial services. Special focus has been placed on industries with high growth potential, including value addition, dairy processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, mining, and agri-tech.
Highlight: Tambiisa Uganda Limited
On the first day of the mission, investors toured local enterprises, including a visit to Tambiisa Uganda Limited—a standout vanilla processing company located in Lugga Zone, Ndejje Division, Wakiso District. Established in 2009, Tambiisa has grown to become one of Uganda’s leading vanilla exporters, supported by working capital financing from Equity Bank Uganda.
During the visit, CEO Isa Tamale showcased the company’s modern vanilla processing plant. Tambiisa sources premium vanilla from over 8,000 smallholder farmers across 38 Ugandan districts and exports its products to markets such as the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, South Africa, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
With a workforce of 25 permanent employees and more than 340 casual workers, Tambiisa exemplifies how strategic financial support and market access can empower agro-based businesses to scale and contribute to national exports and job creation.
Equity Group’s trade missions—previously held in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Vietnam, and India—are helping to attract significant investment flows and foster regional economic integration. These initiatives align with frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and are supported through partnerships with regional bodies such as the East African Community (EAC).
Under the ARRP, Equity is channeling resources equal to 2% of the region’s GDP into private sector development, focusing on agriculture, MSMEs, infrastructure, and manufacturing. The ambitious target: to impact 100 million people and create 50 million new jobs across Africa by the year 2030.