Museveni Calls for Stronger Japanese Investment and Infrastructure Partnership

Entebbe, Uganda | September 29, 2026 President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called for stronger Japanese investment in Uganda, particularly in agro-processing, while urging Japan to support the country with additional road construction equipment to accelerate infrastructure development. President Museveni made the call on Monday during a meeting with a Japanese delegation led by Ambassador Takahashi Misako, Director General and Assistant Minister for the African Affairs Department at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at State House, Entebbe.

The meeting focused on strengthening Uganda-Japan bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, energy, investment, education, health, youth development and other areas of mutual interest. President Museveni commended Japan for its longstanding contribution to Uganda’s infrastructure development, citing major projects including the Kampala Flyover and Karuma Bridge. “Thank you for the support like the flyover and Karuma Bridge,” President Museveni said.

The President said Uganda requires more road construction machinery to support road works across the country, proposing that each local government should have dedicated equipment instead of relying on shared machinery. “I want each to have its own road equipment, the big ones, so that they don’t have shared equipment,” he said.

He said the equipment could include graders, trucks, compactors and other earth-moving machinery, noting that the machinery does not necessarily have to be new as long as it is durable and can be repaired and maintained locally. President Museveni recalled that Uganda had previously purchased road construction equipment from Japanese companies, including Komatsu, and expressed interest in expanding such cooperation. He also requested a meeting with Japanese companies operating in Uganda to discuss challenges affecting their businesses and identify ways of strengthening their operations. “I would want to meet them as a group, if we could organize. They come here and they tell me the issues they have, so that I can solve them,” he said.

Focus on Agro-Processing and Value Addition

President Museveni further encouraged Japanese investors to increase investment in Uganda’s agro-processing sector, emphasizing the importance of value addition in creating employment, expanding economic opportunities and supporting economic growth. He said Uganda’s approach to wealth creation extends beyond its domestic economy, arguing that stronger global economic activity creates markets for products from different countries. The Japanese delegation reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s development through infrastructure projects, human resource development, education, health and refugee support.

Ambassador Misako said Japan was considering additional support for the Kampala Flyover and road upgrading projects, while also exploring possible support for the improvement of the Kibuye-Busega road.

Japan Reaffirms Infrastructure Support

On the reconstruction of Karuma Bridge, Ambassador Misako said a groundbreaking ceremony was planned for November and expressed hope that President Museveni would attend, subject to his schedule. “We would also very much like President Museveni to attend this ceremony if the schedule allows,” she said.

The Ambassador also reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s efforts to improve the welfare of refugees and host communities. “Uganda accepts the largest number of refugees in Africa,” she said, adding that Japan would continue supporting efforts to address the needs of refugees and their host communities. She commended Uganda’s contribution to regional peace and stability, particularly its deployment of troops to Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ambassador Misako also recalled Japan’s support to Uganda during the Ebola outbreak and commended the Government and people of Uganda for their response to the epidemic. Trade, Investment and Human Resource Development On trade and investment, Ambassador Misako said 17 Japanese companies currently have bases in Uganda, operating in sectors including transport, health, manufacturing and agriculture.

She commended the Government for creating an environment that enables Japanese companies to operate in Uganda and stressed the importance of maintaining a conducive business climate. “Ensuring a free and fair business environment is extremely important for promoting foreign investment and further advancing Uganda’s economic development,” she said.

The Ambassador said Japan would like to see more Japanese companies invest in Uganda and called for continued cooperation to strengthen trade and investment relations between the two countries.

Education and youth development also featured prominently in the discussions. Ambassador Misako said more than 200 Ugandans had studied in Japan under Japanese Government scholarship programmes, while more than 4,000 Ugandans had travelled to Japan through various Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) training programmes.

She added that 846 JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers had so far been deployed to Uganda, with 37 currently working in different parts of the country. The Ambassador further highlighted the role of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in deepening Japan-Africa relations, noting that Uganda has remained a constructive partner since the first TICAD meeting in 1993. The discussions underscored the longstanding Uganda-Japan partnership and the potential for expanded cooperation in infrastructure, investment, agro-processing, human capital development and other areas of mutual interest.