The Uganda Free Zones and Export Promotion Authority (UFZEPA) today convened exporters, regulators, development partners, private sector associations and industry stakeholders at Sheraton Kampala Hotel for an Awareness and Capacity Building Workshop on United Kingdom Market Access Requirements for Capsicum and Sesame Exporters.
The workshop was organized in response to enhanced import control measures under the United Kingdom’s retained Regulation 2019/1793, which imposes heightened inspection, testing and certification requirements for selected products, including capsicum and sesame originating from Uganda.
The engagement sought to equip exporters with practical knowledge on compliance requirements, food safety standards, traceability systems, phytosanitary certification and quality assurance measures necessary to maintain and expand access to the UK market.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Mr. Deogratius Masagazi emphasized the importance of exports in Uganda’s economic transformation agenda and urged exporters to prioritize compliance with international standards.
“Uganda’s exports of goods and services have grown significantly over the last five years, reaching USD 18.04 billion in the twelve months to March 2026. Sustaining this momentum requires continuous investment in quality, standards and compliance. Access to international markets is increasingly determined by our ability to meet stringent market requirements and consistently deliver quality products.”
Mr. Masagazi noted that export promotion remains central to Government’s strategy of growing Uganda’s economy ten-fold by 2040 through industrialization, value addition and increased participation in regional and global trade.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of UFZEPA, Mr. Hez Kimoomi Alinda, underscored the importance of protecting Uganda’s reputation in international markets and positioning compliance as a competitive advantage.
“Capsicum and sesame are strategic export products that support thousands of farmers, aggregators, processors and exporters across Uganda. Every export consignment leaving Uganda carries the reputation of our country. A single interception at a foreign border can affect buyer confidence and market opportunities. Our objective is therefore to help exporters convert compliance into a competitive advantage while safeguarding Uganda’s access to high-value international markets.”
Mr. Alinda reaffirmed UFZEPA’s commitment to strengthening exporter readiness through market intelligence, capacity building, business matchmaking and market access interventions aimed at enhancing Uganda’s export competitiveness.
Representing the British High Commission, Ms. Christine Mugoya, Economist, highlighted the importance of the UK-Uganda trade relationship and the opportunities available to Ugandan exporters.
“The United Kingdom remains an important destination for Ugandan exports. Uganda’s exports to the UK reached approximately £475 million in 2025, demonstrating the strength and potential of our trading relationship. Compliance with food safety and quality requirements is critical to sustaining this growth and ensuring that Ugandan exporters continue to access and benefit from the UK market.”
The workshop featured technical presentations by experts from the UK’s Food Standards Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Directorate of Government Laboratory Services and private sector associations. Discussions focused on export compliance, inspection and certification requirements, laboratory testing, traceability systems and practical measures to reduce the risk of border interceptions and export rejections.
Participants included exporters of horticultural products and sesame, farmer organizations, government agencies, laboratories, development partners and private sector stakeholders.
The workshop forms part of UFZEPA’s broader efforts to strengthen Uganda’s export ecosystem, increase market access, and support the country’s industrialization and export-led growth agenda.
