32nd Uganda International Trade Fair opens in Lugogo with Black Deals discounts

Kampala — The 32nd Uganda International Trade Fair is officially under way at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) Show Grounds in Lugogo, running from 2 to 11 October 2026.

UMA announced the opening on Friday morning, telling the public the fair is “officially ON” and urging visitors not only to hear about the offers but to shop them. Entry is UGX 10,000 per person. Gates are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The fair is held under the theme “Formalising Trade to Secure Uganda’s Economic Future.” Organisers expect more than 1,000 exhibitors from over 30 countries and more than 150,000 visitors over the ten days. UMA Board Chairman Aga Sekalala Jr. has projected that on-site sales and commercial transactions will exceed Shs 10 billion, before longer-term gains from distributorships, supply contracts, investment leads and export relationships struck on the grounds.

Black Deals, the headline offer

The new feature this year is Black Deals, branded BlackDeals@UGITF. It is a first for the fair: a platform of verified products sold at discounted prices directly by manufacturers and distributors, with daily Black Hours on the grounds.

At the launch, Regina Namuwonge, who chairs UMA’s communications, events and marketing committee and leads organisation of the fair, said more than 4,000 products were already listed, with more still being uploaded. UMA Executive Director Dr Ezra Muhumuza Rubanda said 207 member firms had uploaded 4,306 discounted items onto a trading system built with information-technology partners, which also serves as a consumer database so shoppers can track what is on offer.

The catalogue covers construction materials such as water tanks, steel and cement, plus cosmetics, food and beverages, electronics, kitchen appliances, television sets, vehicles and machinery. Namuwonge said prices at this year’s fair would be “like nothing ever seen.” Later promotions have also pointed to more than 1,200 verified deals from Ugandan businesses.

What visitors will find

Beyond the shopping tent, the fair is built as a marketplace for industry. Specialised pavilions for agriculture, education and health will showcase farming technology, value addition, student innovations and practical skills. The Education and Agriculture pavilions are scheduled for launch on 5 October, the same day independent judges assess exhibitor stalls.

Industrial solutions on show include locally built refrigerated trucks meant to keep fresh produce sound in transit, and heavy-duty trailers for moving minerals from mining fields to processing hubs.

Booked exhibitors on the official UGITF platform include Steel & Tube, Nice House of Plastics, Riham, Coca-Cola, Ugachick Poultry Breeders, Mesha Steel, Crest Tank, Movit, National Water and Sewerage Corporation, NSSF, Uganda Communications Commission and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, among others. UMA has also tagged consumer brands including Jesa Dairy, TotalEnergies and Crest Foam as part of the opening push.

There is a daily entertainment programme: live artists on opening day, DJs, dance crews, breakdance and edutainment, raffles and gift giveaways. Headline performances are planned for the official opening ceremony on 6 October. The chief guest listed by organisers is President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

Why UMA says it matters

Sekalala has framed the fair as more than a sales floor. Formalisation, he has argued, is not only about registration or tax: it is about making enterprises visible, bankable, standards-compliant and ready to grow. Rubanda has urged Ugandans to use the discounts while buying from local manufacturers, in line with the wider Buy Uganda, Build Uganda push.

For three decades the Uganda International Trade Fair has grown from fewer than 50 exhibitors in the early 1990s into one of East Africa’s main industry and investment platforms. This 32nd edition adds a consumer-facing deals layer to that trade brief.

If you are going

• When: 2–11 October 2026, 9:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. daily
• Where: UMA Show Grounds, Lugogo, Kampala
• Entry: UGX 10,000
• Tickets: also flagged by UMA on MTN MoMo
• Official opening: 6 October 2026