Preparations are in high gear for the 14th Eastern Region Trade Fair, set to take place from June 5 to June 14, 2026, in Mbale City, with organisers positioning the event as a key platform for trade, innovation, and industrial growth in Eastern Uganda.
The fair, which will bring together manufacturers, investors, SMEs, and innovators, is expected to showcase business opportunities aimed at accelerating regional economic development and supporting Uganda’s broader industrialisation agenda.
Speaking during the grand launch, Mrs. Regina Namuwonge, Chairperson of the Organising Committee, said the event is designed to strengthen Uganda’s economic future through innovation and enterprise.
“We are building Uganda’s economic future, one innovation at a time, and this year’s trade fair will bring together business, innovation, and opportunity to drive growth in Eastern Uganda,” she said.
The event is being organised under the umbrella of the Uganda Manufacturers Association, which continues to champion industrial development and formal trade linkages across the country.
UMA Chairman Aga Sekalala Jnr said the trade fair highlights the central role of industrialisation and structured trade in transforming Uganda’s economy, particularly through manufacturing, investment, and regional market integration.
“This platform continues to advance industrial growth, promote value addition, and connect our businesses to wider markets. Together, we drive Uganda’s industrial transformation forward,” he said.
The UMA Executive Director Ezra Muhumuza Rubanda noted that the fair aligns with Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy, which targets rapid expansion of production, exports, and value addition across key sectors.
He emphasised that strengthening partnerships between the private sector, government, and investors will be critical in unlocking new opportunities for regional industrialisation.
Organisers say the 10-day event will feature exhibitions, business-to-business networking sessions, innovation showcases, and investment forums aimed at linking local producers to wider domestic and export markets.
The public has been encouraged to attend and participate in the fair, which is expected to attract exhibitors from across Uganda and the East African region, further positioning Eastern Uganda as a growing hub for commerce and industrial activity.
