Uganda’s and Oman’s chambers of commerce signed a memorandum of understanding in Muscat to connect Ugandan exporters of coffee, gold and fruit with buyers in the Omani market, according to PML Daily and the Monitor, both reporting the agreement around 13 October 2026. Oman imports roughly 80% of its food, the Monitor reported, making it a significant potential outlet for Ugandan agricultural exporters looking to diversify beyond their traditional European and regional markets.
Faisal Abdullah Al Rowas signed for the Omani side and Alpha Karamagi Charles for Uganda, according to both outlets, though neither report specified the two men’s exact titles within their respective chambers. The agreement establishes a framework for matching Ugandan exporters with Omani importers and distributors rather than setting binding trade volumes or tariff terms, a structure typical of chamber-to-chamber MOUs rather than government-to-government trade agreements.
Coffee is Uganda’s largest single agricultural export earner, and the country has spent recent years trying to expand beyond its dependence on the European Union and a handful of Asian buyers. Gold, now a major non-traditional export for Uganda, and fresh fruit round out the categories named in the agreement, reflecting an attempt to diversify the trade relationship beyond a single commodity.
Why Oman, and why now
Oman’s heavy reliance on food imports has pushed the country to build longer-term supply partnerships with exporting nations, a strategy mirrored by other Gulf states as they manage food-security concerns tied to limited arable land and water scarcity. For African exporters such as Uganda, Gulf markets offer an alternative to saturated European outlets and the logistical complexity of reaching more distant buyers in East Asia.
The timing follows a broader pattern of African governments and trade bodies courting Gulf investment and import demand through 2026, as food-security planning in the Gulf has increasingly looked toward African suppliers for staples, fruit and coffee. Uganda’s chamber-led approach, rather than a formal government trade pact, suggests the two sides are testing commercial interest before committing to anything more binding.
What it means for Ugandan farmers
Whether the MOU translates into higher farm-gate prices for Ugandan coffee and fruit growers will depend on how quickly exporters can meet Omani import standards and build logistics chains into the Gulf, neither of which the agreement itself addresses. Chamber-level MOUs typically function as introductions rather than guarantees, leaving the commercial details, including pricing, volumes and shipping arrangements, to individual exporters and importers to negotiate separately.
For Kerala and Gulf-based traders who already move agricultural produce through similar Gulf corridors, the Uganda-Oman agreement adds another African supply line competing for space in a market where India, Pakistan and East African countries already court the same buyers. Neither chamber has published a timeline for when the first shipments under the new framework might move. India’s own exporters face comparable pressure closer to home, where New Delhi has moved to stabilise domestic sugar supplies ahead of its own festive season.
