Uganda and the European Union will bring together investors, businesses, financial institutions and government officials in Kampala next week to secure investment, financing and technology partnerships for the country’s renewable energy sector.
The Renewable Energy Conference and Expo 2026 (REC 2026) will take place from October 19 to 22 at Kampala Serena Hotel, with the fifth Uganda–EU Business Forum scheduled for October 20 and 21 as part of the wider conference and Uganda Energy Week programme.
The events will focus on expanding renewable energy investment, strengthening commercial partnerships and using clean energy to support industrialisation, job creation and economic growth.
REC 2026 will run under the theme “From Systems to Scale: Transforming Uganda’s Green Economy,” while the Uganda–EU Business Forum will focus on “Driving Investment, Renewable Energy Partnerships and Green Industrialization under the Global Gateway Strategy.”
The conference will provide a platform for policy discussions, knowledge exchange, innovation and investment across the renewable energy sector, while the business forum will connect Ugandan and European companies with investors, financiers and public authorities to develop commercially viable projects.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Monica Musenero Masanza said Uganda’s transition to a modern and sustainable energy system required more than infrastructure development, calling for investment, innovation, technology and stronger partnerships.
“Uganda’s transition to a modern, productive and sustainable energy system for national transformation requires more than infrastructure; it requires investment, innovation, technology and strong partnerships,” Musenero said.
She said REC 2026 would bring together public and private sector players around Uganda’s renewable energy ambitions, while the Uganda–EU Business Forum would create practical opportunities to connect those ambitions with investors, financiers and businesses.
“We look forward to partnerships that translate Uganda’s renewable energy potential into productive energy, industrial growth, jobs and shared prosperity,” Musenero said.
European Union Ambassador to Uganda Jan Sadek said the country had considerable potential to harness renewable energy to improve livelihoods and create economic opportunities.
“Uganda has enormous potential to harness clean, renewable energy and turn that potential into better opportunities and livelihoods for its people,” Sadek said.
He said unlocking that potential required cooperation between government, businesses, investors and international partners, adding that the EU’s Global Gateway strategy was bringing together public institutions, development finance and private capital to support sustainable investment.
Sadek said the Uganda–EU Business Forum would connect European expertise, technology and investment with Uganda’s development priorities, helping to transform potential opportunities into bankable projects, financing arrangements and long-term economic cooperation.
The forum comes amid growing trade between Uganda and the European Union. According to the organisers, Uganda’s exports to the EU increased from €377 million in 2015 to €1.8 billion in 2025, while Uganda recorded a trade surplus of approximately €950 million with the bloc last year.
The two sides are seeking to build on these commercial ties by connecting businesses with potential investors and technology providers, particularly in renewable energy, energy infrastructure and green industrialisation.
Discussions will cover hydropower, geothermal energy, industrial power supply and related infrastructure, as well as the use of renewable energy to support manufacturing and other productive sectors.
The participants will also explore innovative financing arrangements and partnerships to help renewable energy projects move from the planning stage to bankability and large-scale implementation.
The Uganda–EU Business Forum will feature business-to-business (B2B), business-to-government (B2G) and business-to-finance (B2F) engagements. The programme will also include exhibitions, project pitches, investment discussions and curated matchmaking sessions to connect Ugandan and European companies with potential commercial partners.
Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) chief executive officer Stephen Asiimwe said renewable energy offered the private sector opportunities to increase investment, promote innovation and support industrial development.
“Uganda’s renewable-energy transition presents a significant opportunity for the private sector to drive investment, innovation and industrial growth,” Asiimwe said.
He said the two events would enable businesses to engage with government, investors and development partners, build strategic relationships and identify practical solutions to expand access to clean energy.
“PSFU remains committed to connecting businesses to these opportunities and supporting an enabling environment for sustainable private-sector-led growth,” Asiimwe said.
The Uganda–EU Business Forum is being implemented through the EU–Uganda Business Hub under the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy. It is co-organised by the European Union, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and PSFU, in collaboration with other partners.
The Global Gateway strategy seeks to mobilise investment in infrastructure and other strategic sectors through partnerships between the EU, partner countries and businesses.
For Uganda, the discussions will centre on connecting renewable energy resources with the investment and technology needed to expand reliable and affordable energy access while supporting industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
The combined programme will also provide a platform for businesses and financial institutions to explore financing, technology transfer and commercial partnerships that can support the development of Uganda’s green economy.
REC 2026 will run from October 19 to 22, while the Uganda–EU Business Forum will take place on October 20 and 21 at Kampala Serena Hotel.
