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Kampala, Uganda — Uganda and France are intensifying diplomatic and economic engagement ahead of the upcoming Africa-Forward Summit, with officials from both countries describing the gathering as a defining moment in the evolution of Africa-Europe partnerships. Scheduled for May 11–12 in Nairobi, the summit will, for the first time since its inception in 2017, be hosted in an English-speaking African country an adjustment both symbolic and strategic in the changing landscape of continental diplomacy.
Speaking during a high-level breakfast briefing hosted by H.E Virginie Leroy the French Ambassador to Uganda, Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Gen Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, welcomed the summit as a reflection of shifting geopolitical realities and a growing recognition of Africa’s expanding economic and demographic significance. “Nairobi is a first,” the Minister observed. “Since 2017, these meetings have taken place in French-speaking countries. This is the first time France is crossing the proverbial Rubicon to engage directly within English-speaking Africa.”
The remarks carried broader diplomatic significance beyond venue selection, the summit’s relocation as part of France’s evolving Africa policy under H.E President Emmanuel Macron, aimed at broadening engagement across the continent through partnerships anchored in economic cooperation, innovation, and youth empowerment rather than traditional political influence. Hon. Gen. Odongo framed the summit within Uganda’s own transition toward Economic and Commercial Diplomacy, a strategy increasingly guiding the country’s foreign policy engagements. He emphasized that the Nairobi meeting would focus less on ceremonial diplomacy and more on measurable outcomes tied to trade, investment, enterprise, and job creation. “We are not going to Nairobi for symbolism alone,” he remarked. “Africa-Forward is a statement that Africa is moving forward through enterprise, business, innovation, and regional partnerships.”
The summit comes at a pivotal time for Uganda, which continues to position itself as one of East Africa’s emerging economic centres. Ambassador Leroy noted that Uganda’s sustained economic growth consistently above six percent has attracted growing international interest, particularly as the country prepares for commercial oil production and expands investment in infrastructure and energy. At the same time, she underscored the urgency of addressing Uganda’s demographic realities, with approximately 700,000 young people entering the labour market annually. According to the Ambassador, future partnerships must therefore prioritize scalable employment opportunities, entrepreneurship, and skills development.
France’s engagement with Uganda, she explained, is increasingly guided by three interconnected pillars: partnership, investment expansion, and long-term developmental impact. Under the “Team Up” approach, France works alongside Ugandan institutions, youth-led initiatives, and regional partners through agencies and institutions including the Agence Française de Développement, Alliance Française, and the French Chamber of Commerce. The model also integrates broader European and African partnerships, reflecting a multilateral approach to development cooperation.
The second pillar, “Scale Up,” focuses on mobilizing financing instruments to support Uganda’s priority sectors. French-backed investments have increasingly targeted infrastructure, renewable energy, healthcare, and entrepreneurship through concessional financing, export support mechanisms, and private sector partnerships. The third pillar, “Multiply Impact,” centres on employment creation, skills transfer, and regional integration. Officials highlighted the growing footprint of French companies operating in Uganda, particularly in sectors linked to energy, agribusiness, finance, and digital innovation.
Several bilateral projects were cited as examples of this expanding cooperation. Partnerships between the National Water and Sewerage Corporation and French development institutions have improved access to clean water for millions of Ugandans across Greater Kampala and southwestern Uganda over the past decade and a half.
In the renewable energy sector, collaboration involving Uganda’s Ministry of Energy, France, and the European Union has extended clean energy access across dozens of districts, supporting rural electrification and sustainability goals. Agricultural transformation has also emerged as a central area of engagement, particularly through initiatives supporting climate-resilient coffee production and agroforestry systems. French-supported entrepreneurship programs are increasingly targeting Uganda’s innovation ecosystem. Through initiatives such as Digital Africa and GreenTech incubation partnerships with financial institutions, Ugandan start-ups particularly those led by women and youth are receiving mentorship, financing, and international exposure. Cultural diplomacy has similarly become part of the relationship. Creative economy initiatives supporting digital content creators, musicians, and cultural entrepreneurs illustrate a broader understanding that economic cooperation increasingly intersects with culture, technology, and soft power.
The upcoming summit in Nairobi is therefore expected to serve not merely as a diplomatic gathering, but as a platform for redefining how African and European partnerships are structured in the coming decade. Observers note that the language surrounding the summit particularly the term “Africa-Forward” signals an intentional shift away from donor-recipient frameworks toward partnerships based on shared interests and mutual growth. For Uganda, participation in the summit aligns with its wider strategy of positioning itself as both a regional investment destination and an active diplomatic actor within Africa’s transformation agenda. As preparations continue, expectations are growing that the Nairobi meeting could help shape a more pragmatic and commercially driven phase in Africa-France relations one increasingly defined not by history, but by opportunity.
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