By Spy Uganda
Uganda and Germany are moving to deepen trade and investment cooperation, with both countries preparing a new two-year cooperation framework expected to enter negotiations in November 2026.
The development follows a high-level engagement between German Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Sigrid Sommer, and the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), headed by Col. Edith Nakalema, in Kampala.
During her visit to SHIPU, Ambassador Sommer reaffirmed Germany’s interest in supporting German businesses seeking to invest in Uganda, while discussions explored practical measures to strengthen private-sector-led economic development.
The engagement placed SHIPU and its digital investment protection mechanisms at the centre of efforts to make Uganda more accessible and secure for international investors.
Col. Nakalema, who heads the unit, has continued to champion the use of technology to connect investors with government institutions while reducing bureaucratic hurdles and protecting businesses from fraud and other investment-related challenges.
The Electronic Investors Protection Portal (EIPP), an initiative of SHIPU, enables investors to access verified government information, conduct due diligence, raise complaints and follow up on their concerns remotely. The portal was launched by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in December 2023.
During the German delegation’s engagement, Ambassador Sommer expressed interest in the platform as a tool that can help German businesses obtain reliable information before and during their investment activities in Uganda.
The discussions identified several sectors with potential for increased German investment, including renewable energy, vocational and technical skills development, technology, logistics and agriculture.
The two countries also reviewed the growing trade relationship, with bilateral trade reaching approximately US$335 million in 2024, according to Germany’s Federal Foreign Office. Uganda’s major exports to Germany include coffee, tea and fish, while machinery and chemical products are among Uganda’s key imports from Germany.
Coffee remains an important component of Uganda’s exports to the German market, but both sides are seeking to broaden the relationship beyond traditional commodities by encouraging investment in production, value addition, technology and other sectors.
For SHIPU, the engagement represents another step in its expanding role as a bridge between foreign investors and Uganda’s government agencies.
Under Col. Nakalema’s leadership, the unit has increasingly positioned investor protection around coordination, digitalisation and timely intervention. In June 2026, Nakalema told stakeholders in manufacturing and digital technology that SHIPU’s role is to ensure that investors are supported and able to contribute to Uganda’s economic transformation.
The unit has also used the EIPP to help investors verify government procedures and contact persons, access authentic information and report challenges without relying on potentially costly middlemen.
The German engagement therefore provides an opportunity for Uganda to showcase these mechanisms to one of Europe’s major industrial economies, while giving German businesses greater access to investment opportunities in Uganda.
As preparations begin for the new two-year cooperation framework, attention is expected to focus on expanding trade, attracting German capital and technology, strengthening skills development and creating more opportunities for private-sector partnerships.
The latest engagement also reinforces SHIPU’s growing role in Uganda’s investment ecosystem, with Col. Nakalema continuing to lead efforts to ensure that legitimate investors can navigate government systems, receive timely support and pursue opportunities with greater confidence.
