An image from an IGC conference in Uganda on economic growth. Photo by IGC.
9th Uganda Economic Growth Forum
The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), together with the International Growth Centre (IGC), co-host the 9th Economic Growth Forum (EGF IX) on August 28–29, 2025.
The forum explores how Uganda can enhance its competitiveness and sustain long-term growth amidst a rapidly evolving global economic landscape marked by reduced aid flows, tightening global financial conditions, shifting trade patterns, and the growing urgency of climate change. It brings together senior government officials, development partners, academia, and the private sector to discuss Uganda’s tenfold growth ambition, with insights feeding into the 2026/27 national budget strategy. Key themes include fiscal and export resilience, industrial transformation, green growth opportunities, improving public investment efficiency, mobilising domestic savings, and unlocking productivity through innovation and regional integration.
For more information about the conference, please email [email protected].
Event sessions
Keynote Speaker
Keynote address: Changing global economic environment and its implications for Africa’s economic growth prospects and strategy.
Session I: Global economic dynamics and the prospects for Uganda’s economic growth
Matia Kasaija
Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, UgandaMoses Bekabye
Technical Advisor for Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda
Tim Dobermann
Research Director, International Growth Centre
Albert Musisi
Commissioner, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda
Dr. Francis Wasswa
Senior Economist, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Key questions:
How can Uganda leverage the new global environment to achieve its 10-fold growth objectives?
How can the government manage fiscal consolidation without compromising growth amid tight global financing?
Session II: Raising national savings and public revenue for investment and growth
Henry Musasizi
Minister for State General Duties, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, UgandaPaul Lakuma
Senior Research Fellow and Head Macroeconomics Department, Economic Policy Research Centre
David Henning
PhD student, University of California - Los AngelesMarios Obwona
Consultant (Macroeconomics), National Planning Authority, UgandaMoses Kaggwa
Director of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda Key questions:
What are the failures and successes for the Domestic Resource Mobilisation Strategy, and what are the prospects for increased revenue mobilisation? How can the tax policy and administration be reformed to broaden the tax base, enhance equity and compliance, and increase revenue in a way that builds public trust and supports formalisation?
Even with the slowdown in development assistance, are there measures that Uganda could take to generate new foreign savings, perhaps from the international private sector and investment community?
How can Uganda leverage growing diaspora remittances and investments to contribute to the tenfold growth strategy?
Session III: Advancing Uganda’s Growth Agenda through optimal resource allocation and efficiency in public spending.
Amos Lugoloobi
Minister of State for Planning, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, UgandaEdward Bbaale
Associate Professor, Economics, Makerere University
Nada Eissa
Associate Professor, Georgetown University
Vittorio Bassi
Associate Professor of Economics, University of Southern California
Julius Mukunda
Economist, Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) Key questions:
Public Spending for Growth: How can Uganda improve the efficiency of public spending and investment to drive productivity, jobs, and private sector growth?
What inter-ministerial mechanisms are needed to ensure optimal resource allocation and to strengthen public investment management?
What reforms and cross-sector coordination are needed to support firm growth, agro-industrialisation, and diversification through market-friendly industrial policy?
Welcoming and summary of day 1
Session IV: Export development and competitiveness in a changing global economy
Ramathan Ggoobi
Permanent Secretary/ Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda
Jakob Rauschendorfer
Doctoral Candidate, Sciences Po
Cleopas Ndorere
Commissioner of External Trade, Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives
Anna Nambooze
Country Director Uganda and South Sudan, Trademark East AfricaDan Jollans
Economic Advisor, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Key questions:
What are the most promising strategies Uganda can adopt to diversify its export base and increase competitiveness in agro-industry, mineral processing, and other goods, along with knowledge-intensive services exports?
How can Uganda address persistent structural bottlenecks—such as limited value addition, trade logistics, and market access—to unlock new export opportunities and integrate more deeply into regional and global value chains?
What policy and institutional reforms are needed to orchestrate an all-of-government export push in support of firms in upgrading their capabilities, expanding into higher-value exports, and reaching new markets?
Session V: Climate Change: Building climate resilience and green transition for growth
Jeanne Sorin
PhD student in Economics, University of Chicago
Mark Purdon
Teacher, University of Quebec, MontrealWilson Asiimwe
Senior Economic Modeler, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, UgandaIbrahim Okumu
Dean, School of Economics, Makerere UniversityAlfred Okot Okidi
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water and Environment,Uganda Chair: PS – Ministry of Water and Environment
Key questions:
What are the implications of climate Change for Uganda’s tenfold growth strategy?
What strategies can Uganda adopt to enhance climate resilience in key sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, and water management to safeguard long-term growth?
How can Uganda leverage emerging climate-related finance to support its green transition and offset declines in traditional development assistance? How can Uganda balance the growing demand for its agricultural exports with the pressures from climate change and shifting trade restrictions from key partners?
Davos Style Panel of Policy Implementers: Realising the Promise of the Tenfold Economic Growth Program
Jonathan Leape
Executive Director, IGC and Associate Professor of Economics, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)Michael Atingi-Ego
Governor, Bank of UgandaRamathan Ggoobi
Permanent Secretary/ Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda
Doreen Katusiime
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Uganda
Lynette B. Bagonza
Permanent Secretary,, Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives, Uganda
