Sanjay Tanna urges value addition at Equity Bank trade roadshow

What the report says

At the 2026 Uganda Trade and Investment Roadshow in Kampala, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Sanjay Tanna called for stronger value addition and local industrial development as a way to create jobs and raise incomes. The event, held at Marriott Hotel on Monday, brought together more than 150 business leaders, investors, policymakers and private-sector representatives from 10 nationalities. It was organised by Equity Group to connect Ugandan businesses with regional and international counterparts.

According to The Independent Uganda, Tanna urged companies to move away from exporting raw materials and instead invest in sectors such as agro-processing, minerals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, leather, construction materials and ICT. He also encouraged Equity Bank to expand its support for micro, small and medium enterprises, especially in rural areas, through financial literacy, bookkeeping support, access to finance and market linkages. He said government was willing to work with financial institutions to help lower investment barriers and the cost of capital.

Equity Bank Executive Director Claver Serumaga said the bank aims to do more than provide financing by linking businesses to markets, technology, capital and partnerships. The programme includes a coffee value chain roundtable, business visits and sector engagements, with the Uganda leg scheduled to run until September 16 before moving on to Kigali, Rwanda. The roadshow reflects broader efforts to deepen intra-African trade and strengthen investment ties across the region.