In Summary: Uganda and Germany have reaffirmed their commitment to more than six decades of bilateral cooperation, with renewed emphasis on investment, industrialisation, technology transfer, skills development and sustainable growth under Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan and Tenfold Growth Strategy.
Kampala, Uganda — Uganda and Germany have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation, with a renewed focus on investment, industrialisation, technology transfer and sustainable development as the two countries seek to accelerate Uganda’s economic transformation.
The commitment was reiterated during the Uganda–Germany Government-to-Government Negotiations, where Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST) Dr Ramathan Ggoobi called for deeper economic cooperation aligned with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and Tenfold Growth Strategy.
Ggoobi said Uganda wants to translate its longstanding partnership with Germany into increased investment, production, value addition, exports, employment and improved livelihoods.
Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy seeks to expand the economy to US$500 billion by 2040, with particular emphasis on four priority sectors under the ATMS framework: Agro-Industrialisation, Tourism Development, Mineral Development, and Science, Technology and Innovation.
He called for increased German investment in these sectors, alongside technology transfer, industrial development, skills training and enterprise growth.
The PSST also welcomed Germany’s proposed interventions in water security, particularly investment in the River Enyau project, electricity access in the West Nile sub-region, climate-resilient agribusiness and local economic development.
He singled out the SCALE programme in Northern Uganda as one of the initiatives expected to contribute to local economic development.
On refugee management, Ggoobi called for predictable international financing and equitable burden-sharing, noting that Uganda was hosting approximately 2.05 million refugees and asylum-seekers as of September 2026.
The Head of the German delegation, Joachim Schmitt, who also heads the Central and East Africa Division at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, reaffirmed Berlin’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation through mutual accountability, measurable development outcomes and greater private-sector participation.
Schmitt commended Uganda’s refugee-hosting policy and its contribution to regional stability, while acknowledging the growing humanitarian pressures associated with hosting large refugee populations.
He also highlighted Germany’s continued engagement in climate resilience, regional health security and sustainable development, including support for the construction of six valley tanks in Karamoja.
However, Schmitt emphasised that good governance, transparency, accountability, respect for human rights and a predictable investment environment remain important foundations for sustainable cooperation.
He called for stronger trade, technology and private-sector partnerships, arguing that mobilising private capital alongside development financing would be important in accelerating economic transformation.
Uganda and Germany have maintained diplomatic and development cooperation for more than six decades, with Germany supporting programmes in areas including renewable energy, water and sanitation, governance, education, health and economic development.
Uganda’s NDP IV provides the national planning framework for the 2025/26–2029/30 period, while the Tenfold Growth Strategy sets out the ambition to expand the economy significantly by 2040.
The ATMS priorities are central to this agenda, with government seeking to increase production and exports, strengthen domestic industries, and attract investment into sectors considered important for long-term economic growth.
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