Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) officials have announced that President William Ruto of Kenya will attend the launch of the 28th Uganda International Trade Fair.
KAMPALA, UGANDA | NOW THEN DIGITAL — In an announcement, officials have indicated that President William Ruto of Kenya will grace the launch of the 28th Uganda International Trade Fair, which will be held at the UMA show grounds in Lugogo, Kampala.
- Officials have announced that President William Ruto of Kenya will mark the opening of the 28th Uganda International Trade Fair at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) show grounds in Lugogo, Kampala.
- According to Dan Birungi, the Executive Director of the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), the annual trade fair has returned after two years without it due to the 2020 and 2021 Covid-19 lockdowns.
- The timing of President Ruto‘s anticipated visit comes amid concern over non-tariff barriers in the region, including an ongoing ban on milk exports from Uganda to Kenya since December.
- Organizers of the UMA Trade Fair confirmed to Daily Monitor that President William Ruto and three other heads of state have been invited to the event. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will close the event.
On October 3, the 28th UMA Trade Fair event will begin, and it will run until October 10.
As part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with platinum sponsors for the 8-day trade fair, UMA executive director Daniel Birungi announced the visit of President William Ruto on Friday, September 16, 2022.
Dan Birungi, Executive Director of the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), said the annual trade fair will resume after a two-year interruption caused by Covid-19 lockdowns.
“This time around, the expenditure incorporates hosting presidents and heads of State of different countries who are going to visit the trade fair. At the opening ceremony, we anticipate having His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya, Dr William Ruto, to open the event and the closing ceremony will be presided by President Museveni alongside other heads of State,” said Mr Birungi of UMA.
Ruto’s visit comes amid concerns over non-tariff barriers that keep business in the region expensive, with Ugandan exports, such as milk, being blocked from entering Kenyan markets since December 2019.
The UMA Trade Fair officials told Daily Monitor that they invited President William Ruto and over three other East African heads of state to attend. In addition to Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda is expected to open and close the trade fair.
Additionally, Daniel Birungi thanked Total Energies Uganda Ltd for contributing Shs150m to the UMA trade fair before signing a three-year Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate trade and economic growth.
A Shs10,000 fee will be charged for each person to attend the trade fair, which will run under the theme: “”Harnessing economic recovery through local sourcing and deepening value chain integration,”.”
Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) reports that about 90 percent of the stalls prepared for 1,000 local and international exhibitors have been booked. It estimates that 120 of the international exhibitors come from 20 countries worldwide.
Editor’s Note: We would appreciate it if you could let us know if any of our content is inaccurate or outdated at press@nowthendigital.com.
You’re reading nowthendigital.com — which breaks the news about Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and the rest of the world, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow NOW THEN DIGITAL on YouTube, Google, Web Stories, Google News, Medium, Twitter, Reddit, Pinterest, Linktr, Buy Me a Coffee, and Flipboard to stay in the loop.
