Turn Uganda’s €2.2B green deals into real jobs

What the report says

The Observer says Uganda and the European Union are marking 50 years of diplomatic ties with a stronger focus on green industrialization, renewable energy and private investment. The piece says the discussion came up at a recent Uganda–EU Business Forum and Renewable Energy Conference in Kampala, where EU Ambassador Jan Sadek pointed to a sharp rise in trade and investment links between Uganda and Europe.

According to the article, Ugandan exports to the EU have increased significantly over the past decade, and European capital made up a large share of Uganda’s foreign direct investment last year. It also cites EU-backed energy projects, including financing for upgrades to the Nalubaale and Kiira hydropower stations, as part of efforts to improve electricity supply and support economic growth. The broader aim, the report says, is to turn cleaner power into support for local manufacturing and industrial development.

The commentary also warns that major financing announcements will only matter if they translate into lower costs and more reliable electricity for Ugandan businesses, especially small and medium-sized firms. It quotes private sector and government voices stressing the need for local participation in value chains, better policy follow-through and funding models suited to domestic enterprises. The article’s central argument is that the success of the green partnership should be judged by jobs, factory output and access to power, not by diplomacy alone.