Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Lord Popat visits Uganda, UK to provide £2.5bn to help develop country

Lord Popat visits Uganda, UK to provide £2.5bn to help develop country

BRITISH prime minister’s trade envoy to Uganda ​Lord Dolar Popat led a successful trade mission to the country last week to boost bilateral relations with the region, a statement said. 

Following the visit, a record £2.5 billion coverage was made available by UK export finance to help industrialise Uganda, the statement added.


Lord Popat met Uganda president Yoweri Museveni during the visit to discuss bilateral interests in health, investment, energy, transport and agriculture between Uganda and the United Kingdom.

Lord Popat said: “I recognise the immense potential of Uganda, but now is the time to turn that potential into tangible commercial outcomes. The aim of my visit was to turn opportunities into deals, but I need the support of the government of Uganda, business, and most importantly, the people of Uganda if we are to strengthen trade relations to grow our mutual prosperity

Uganda celebrates the 60th year of independence in 2022 and the 50th anniversary of the expulsion of Ugandan Asians, of which Lord Popat is one, according to the statement.

President Museveni said that Uganda and the UK should be taking advantage of their shared values and history to further their business and trading links.

The commonwealth is the only international organization where we don’t speak through translators. So, your coming back is a good thing. We should even work more," he said.

Last year, British company McDermott signed a £1.5bn deal to construct an oil pipeline across the country.

During the visit, Lord Popat discussed the Africa Free Trade Agreement. It is estimated the agreement will be able to lift an additional 30 million people out of extreme poverty by 2035 and increase exports by 8 per cent.

Lord Popat speaks during the meeting Lord Popat speaks during the meeting

UK Government has committed £35m to support negotiations and implementation of the deal.

​The delayed introduction of the new Uganda Airlines service between Heathrow and Entebbe was also discussed during the meeting. Lord Popat first spearheaded it in 2018, after he helped negotiate the deal with the Ugandan government and Airbus to purchase two new aircraft which had Rolls Royce engines made in the UK.

However, the service has still not commenced with the new Uganda Airlines airbuses sitting on the tarmac in Entebbe. Lord Popat met with the minister of works and Transport to discuss progress and offer UK support to start the service.

Ugandan president promised to push both Uganda Airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to work together to ensure all legal requirements were met.

British high commissioner to Uganda, HE Kate Airey emphasised the need to have direct flights to the UK to promote tourism and links with the UK during the discussions.

The UK does not believe in short term gain, instead we want to ensure that any investment made in Uganda will have long term sustainable outcomes that will deliver for generations to come. The UK is partnering with Uganda using our unique prosperity offer to support Uganda to catalyse economic growth and boost UK and Uganda’s mutual prosperity," the high commissioner said.

Lord Popat speaks during the meeting Lord Popat discussion with British envoy

Uganda’s flagship Namanve Industrial Park project, constructed by the British Lagan Group, a deal worth £200m was also brought up at the meeting. The project is almost complete, the statement further said.

Other construction projects included the Kabaale International Airport in Hoima, which represented the largest ever UK Export Finance (UKEF) loan (£270 million) to an African government to help finance the construction of a new international airport.

The campaign for recruiting Ugandan nurses, a collaboration to invest in the Hoima Hospital to serve the development in the area around the new airport, as well as setting up a Moorfield Park Hospital in the region were also discussed.

Lord Popat met with Francis Mwebesa, minister of trade, industry and cooperatives, Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, minister of energy and mineral development, Robert Mukiza, DG Uganda investment authorities, Dr Diana Atwine of the ministry of health and Equity Bank CEO Dr James Mwangi, to explore opportunities.

More For You

Madhvani group executives meet Modi to discuss investments in India

Madhvani Group executives with Narendra Modi

Madhvani group executives meet Modi to discuss investments in India

Executives from the Madhvani Group, including Shrai Madhvani, his wife Aparna Madhvani, and director Nitin Gadhia, met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence in New Delhi on Saturday to discuss the group’s proposed investments in India, including the acquisition of Hindustan National Glass Ltd (HNGIL).

The meeting focused on the group's plans to invest in India through INSCO, which is seeking to acquire HNGIL, the country’s largest container glass manufacturer. The acquisition is currently awaiting approval from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), following key rulings by the Supreme Court of India on January 29 and May 16, 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
Apple India Reroutes 97% of iPhones to US Amid Tariff Push

Apple iPhones are seen inside India's first Apple retail store in Mumbai, India, April 17, 2023.

REUTERS

Foxconn sends 97 per cent of India iPhone exports to US amid tariff push

NEARLY all iPhones exported by Foxconn from India between March and May were shipped to the United States, according to customs data reviewed by Reuters.

The data showed that 97 per cent of Foxconn’s iPhone exports during this period went to the US, significantly higher than the 2024 average of 50.3 per cent.

Keep ReadingShow less
Weaker labour market data sparks debate on rate cuts

The Bank of England is weighing inflation signals ahead of rate call

Weaker labour market data sparks debate on rate cuts

PAY growth in Britain slowed sharply and unemployment rose to its highest level in nearly four years in the three months to April, official figures showed on Tuesday (10), potentially reducing the Bank of England’s (BoE) caution over further interest rate cuts.

Wage growth excluding bonuses slowed to 5.2 per cent, the weakest pace since the three months to September, and fell more than expected from 5.5 per cent in January to March this year.

Keep ReadingShow less
London Tech Week: Indian firms show investment intent

Keir Starmer at London Tech Week in London on Monday (9)

London Tech Week: Indian firms show investment intent

MORE THAN 350 technology companies from India joined London Tech Week, which began on Monday – making it the largest-ever delegation from the country to attend the event.

London mayor Sadiq Khan’s office, City Hall, described the rise in Indian participation as a reflection of deepening ties between India and London’s tech sectors, following the recent signing of the India– UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Keep ReadingShow less
London Tech Week

The discussion around inclusivity and parenthood is likely to remain in the spotlight.

Getty Images

London Tech Week: Woman entrepreneur says she was humiliated after being denied entry for bringing baby

A female entrepreneur has said she felt “absolutely humiliated” after being denied entry to London Tech Week because she was accompanied by her 18-month-old daughter.

Davina Schonle, founder and chief executive of AI start-up Humanvantage AI, had travelled from her home to attend the event at Olympia on Monday, 10 June. She said she had made a three-hour journey to London with her daughter, Isabella, only to be turned away on arrival because children were not allowed into the venue.

Keep ReadingShow less