Uganda

Political relations

Relations between France and Uganda were long affected by Kampala’s foreign policy (including its interventions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo), but have again become confident. Uganda has made increasingly frequent overtures towards France since late 2013, with President Museveni taking part in the Élysée Summit for Peace and Security in Africa and the Ugandan Minister of Foreign Affairs visiting Paris in May 2014. President Museveni very much appreciated his visit to Paris in September 2016, which opened up new possibilities for partnerships (in irrigation, transport, water, revitalization of the national airline, etc.).

French military cooperation in Uganda is undergoing major growth. In 2015, Kampala requested French expertise in training an alpine brigade, and a cooperation officer is now on the staff of the Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF). New cooperation initiatives are being considered with a view to securing Lake Albert.

Economic relations

The bilateral balance of trade is strongly in France’s favour, with the French trade surplus reaching €45 million in 2017 (its highest level since 2013). In 2017, France was Uganda’s 10th largest supplier (with a market share of 2%), mainly exporting pharmaceutical products (30% of French exports), telecommunications equipment (14% of French exports) and building and mining equipment. Food products make up 94% of France’s imports from Uganda (87% coffee).

There are now about 30 French companies operating in the country, across a wide range of sectors: hydrocarbons (Total Distribution, Total E&P, Friedlander-Ortec), telecommunications (Orange, Alcatel-Lucent, Camusat), transport, logistics and distribution (Air France/KLM, SDV Transami, AGS), industry (Hima Cement-Lafarge, Sogea-Satom, Veolia Water, Renault Trucks), and services (Bureau Veritas, CIS Catering, Newrest, Gras Savoye, IGN, Monnaie de Paris).

French direct investment stock in Uganda stood at €58.3 million in 2016, mainly in the manufacturing sector.

Nevertheless, French FDI should grow considerably from the second half of 2018 onwards, due to Total’s final decision to invest in oil reserves under Lake Albert. The oil pipeline will have a capacity of more than 200,000 barrels per day, generating estimated revenue of €2 billion per year for 25 years following the start of exploitation (this amounts to one third of the national budget).