At the Uganda Economic Forum 2026, finance minister Amos Lugoloobi called for higher productivity, investment and business growth to ensure economic progress improves household incomes.
Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development Amos Lugoloobi has urged Ugandans to increase production, take calculated risks and engage in income-generating activities to improve household incomes and livelihoods.
Lugoloobi made the call while officially opening the seventh edition of the Uganda Economic Forum 2026 at Next Media Park, where stakeholders are discussing strategies to ensure economic growth translates into more money in people’s pockets.
He said Uganda’s ambition of building a $500 billion economy by 2040 would require increased productivity, investment and a shift towards economic activities that create jobs, expand businesses and raise household earnings.
Lugoloobi said achieving the goal of putting money in people’s pockets required both government support and individual effort. He identified the national budget and five-year National Development Plans as key instruments for advancing the country’s long-term economic ambitions.
He also cited industrialisation, digital transformation, growth in the services sector and improved market access as important drivers of economic expansion.
The minister called for increased production and more effective tax collection to finance government programmes and help reduce the country’s debt burden.
Meanwhile, Next Media Deputy Chief Executive Officer Peter Mungoma called for stronger collaboration between government, businesses and other stakeholders to ensure economic growth creates employment opportunities and improves household incomes.
Mungoma also urged businesses in tourism, transport, food and entertainment to prepare for opportunities expected from the Africa Cup of Nations, saying the tournament could stimulate economic activity across several sectors.
Emmanuel Njuki, Nile Breweries’ head of legal and corporate affairs, called on manufacturers to strengthen their links with local producers, saying stronger relationships between industries and domestic suppliers could boost production and support national economic development.
The four-day forum, held under the theme “Putting Money in People’s Pockets,” brings together stakeholders to explore how agriculture, tourism, minerals and services can drive production, create jobs and improve household incomes.