Uganda and France are intensifying bilateral cooperation in economic and commercial diplomacy ahead of the Africa-Forward Summit in Nairobi, which is expected to bring together African and French stakeholders to discuss investment, innovation, and sustainable development.
Speaking during a breakfast briefing hosted by French Ambassador to Uganda H.E. Virginie Leroy, Minister of Foreign Affairs General Abubaker Jeje Odongo described the upcoming summit as a historic shift in France-Africa relations, noting that it will be the first time since 2017 that such a meeting is held outside French-speaking countries.
“Nairobi is a first… In the sense that since 2017, these meetings have taken place in French-speaking countries. It is the first time France is crossing the proverbial Rubicon to come to the English-speaking territory,” Odongo said.
He emphasized that the summit represents a transition toward practical economic diplomacy focused on delivering tangible results rather than symbolic engagements.
“So in Nairobi, we are not going to drink champagne. We are going to interact and bring results,” he said, adding that the “Africa-Forward” theme reflects the continent’s ongoing transformation through enterprise and business development.
Ambassador Leroy underscored France’s strategic approach to its engagement with Uganda and Africa, highlighting priorities such as climate action, vaccine sovereignty, and inclusive economic growth. She noted Uganda’s strong economic performance, citing sustained growth above 6% and its expanding youthful population entering the job market each year.
“Uganda stands out as one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s fastest growing economies… Each year, around 700,000 young Ugandans enter the job market,” she said, stressing the urgency of creating large-scale employment opportunities.
She outlined France’s engagement strategy under three pillars: “Team Up, Scale Up, and Multiply Impact,” aimed at strengthening co-creation with Ugandan institutions, mobilising investment, and expanding skills transfer and job creation.
Under the partnership framework, France works with institutions such as the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Alliance Française, and the French Chamber of Commerce, alongside broader European and African collaboration platforms.
Ambassador Leroy also highlighted several ongoing bilateral development projects in Uganda.
Through a partnership between the National Water and Sewerage Corporation and AFD, over five million people in Greater Kampala and the South-West have gained improved access to clean water over the past 15 years.
In the energy sector, cooperation between France, Uganda’s Ministry of Energy, and the European Union has supported renewable energy expansion across 35 districts, benefiting more than 200,000 people.
In agriculture, the EU-funded ROBUST project is supporting transformation of Uganda’s coffee sector through climate-resilient agroforestry and improved farmer livelihoods.
France is also working with Ugandan financial institutions, including Pearl Bank, to expand affordable financing for small businesses, while Digital Africa has supported Ugandan start-ups through funding and mentorship programmes.
Additionally, a GreenTech incubation initiative in partnership with Stanbic Bank is supporting women- and youth-led enterprises, while the SPICE project is empowering creative entrepreneurs in digital content and music.
Ambassador Leroy noted that about 35 French companies are currently active in Uganda, contributing to skills transfer, employment creation, and private sector growth across key sectors.
The Africa-Forward Summit in Nairobi is expected to further strengthen cooperation between African countries and France, with a strong focus on economic partnerships, innovation, and sustainable development pathways.
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