Uganda has officially inaugurated the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) National Implementation Committee (NIC), a critical step toward harnessing the vast opportunities presented by the continental free trade area.
The event, organised by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) in collaboration with TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on 21st and 22nd October, 2025 marked a pivotal moment in Uganda’s journey to deepen intra-African trade and accelerate industrial growth.
The AfCFTA, ratified by Uganda on 28th November 2018, represents one of Africa’s most ambitious economic integration initiatives. It seeks to establish a single continental market for goods and services, enabling the free movement of business persons and investments across the continent.
With a combined market of 1.3 billion people and a GDP exceeding US$3 trillion, the AfCFTA offers unprecedented opportunities for Uganda to expand its export base, attract investment, and strengthen regional value chains.
Speaking at the inauguration, the State Minister for Trade, Gen. Wilson Mbadi emphasised that the formation of the NIC is more than an administrative milestone, it is the engine that will operationalise Uganda’s participation in the AfCFTA.
“We are here to launch more than just a committee; we are here to fire the starting gun for Uganda’s race to the top of African trade,” the Minister noted.
“The AfCFTA is the rocket fuel for our Ten-Fold Growth Strategy and a cornerstone for achieving the goals of the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).”
The Minister underscored that the agreement aligns with Uganda’s broader development vision transforming trade into a driver of inclusive, sustainable economic growth. The NIC, he added, will serve as a national coordination hub, ensuring coherence among ministries, agencies, the private sector, and development partners in implementing AfCFTA commitments.
The two-day event brought together representatives from government institutions, private sector organisations, civil society, and development agencies. Participants validated the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the Committee and its sub-committees, adopted a one-year roadmap, and received an update on Uganda’s commitments under the AfCFTA protocol on trade in goods.
Delivering remarks at the event, Ms. Anna Nambooze, Country Director of TradeMark Africa (TMA) for Uganda and South Sudan, commended the Government of Uganda for demonstrating leadership and readiness to trade under the AfCFTA framework.
“Since February 2025, TradeMark Africa has been working with MTIC to advance domestication of AfCFTA protocols,” Ms. Nambooze said. “We congratulate the Government and URA for completing configuration of tariff schedules, enabling Uganda to begin trading under the AfCFTA.”
She highlighted TMA’s ongoing technical support covering rules of origin, trade in services, competition policy, intellectual property rights, and capacity-building for private sector players. Ms. Nambooze also stressed that successful implementation requires collective effort and inclusivity, ensuring that SMEs, women, and youth-led enterprises benefit from the emerging continental market.
The NIC is expected to play a central role in coordinating national AfCFTA implementation efforts, aligning policies across ministries and sectors, addressing non-tariff barriers and trade facilitation challenges, monitoring progress and ensuring accountability, and promoting inclusive participation to ensure equitable growth.
The 36-member Committee, chaired by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, brings together key government ministries, departments, and agencies responsible for trade, policy, infrastructure, and economic development.
These include: the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Works and Transport, Ministry of East African Community Affairs, Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Health, Office of the President, Bank of Uganda; National Planning Authority, National Information and Technology Authority–Uganda, Uganda Registration Services Bureau, Uganda Revenue Authority, Uganda National Bureau of Standards, and the Uganda Investment Authority, among others. This broad composition reflects the government’s commitment to an inclusive and multi-sectoral approach to implementing the AfCFTA.
With the launch of the NIC, Uganda has set the stage for a new era of trade-driven transformation, positioning itself to fully exploit the opportunities offered by a liberalised African market and to advance the national goal of tenfold economic growth.
Written by
Joellah Anshemeza
Communications Officer.
