The Rift Valley's
Hidden Heat
The Western Rift Valley development programme targets 860 MW of geothermal capacity — and its first tender track is the entry point on the Forum's pipeline. Three major fields — Katwe-Kikorongo, Buranga, and Kibiro — line the Rift, surface investigations are complete, and the first test well at Katwe-Kikorongo is ready for drilling. Uganda needs European geothermal pioneers to take it from prospect to power plant.
With reservoir temperatures of 120–230°C, Uganda's geothermal resources are comparable in quality to fields in Kenya, Iceland and Italy — territories where European companies have built the global standard for development excellence.
Revenue Framework — REFiT Tariffs (ERA)
Sources: ERA Renewable Energy Investment Opportunities (era.go.ug) · ERA REFiT Schedule
Investment Entry Points
What EU Companies Can Do Here
Exploration Drilling Services
Uganda's first geothermal well at Katwe-Kikorongo requires specialist drilling contractors, downhole logging services and fluid sampling expertise — all areas of European strength.
Modular Plant Development
Binary cycle and flash steam modular geothermal plants from 5–25 MW are the commercial entry point. European OEM manufacturers can supply turnkey modular solutions aligned with confirmed reservoir data.
Project Finance and Risk Capital
Geothermal's higher upfront drilling risk creates a financing gap that EFSD+ guarantees, EIB risk capital and MIGA political risk insurance are specifically designed to bridge for EU-backed projects.
Resource Assessment and Advisory
Advanced geochemical modelling, reservoir simulation, and field management expertise from established European geothermal markets (Iceland, Italy, Germany) directly transfers to Uganda's Rift Valley geology.
First-Mover Status is Available Now
Uganda's geothermal sector has less competitive pressure than any comparable African market. The Government has prioritised Katwe-Kikorongo for the national programme. EU companies that engage at the Forum will be working with a Government and regulator that are actively seeking European geothermal partners — not responding to a crowded tender.
Beyond the Focus Sectors
The Wider Energy Value Chain
EU support to companies extends across the whole energy value chain — and European development finance institutions already have an active track record in every one of these segments in Uganda.
☀️ Solar PV & Storage
Grid-connected solar PV at utility scale plus battery energy storage systems — the largest single technology volume in the national pipeline, and a natural fit for European OEMs, EPC contractors and storage integrators.
🏭 Cogeneration
Bagasse cogeneration expansion in the sugar industry — brownfield industrial sites with existing feedstock, off-take and grid connections, offering shorter development cycles than greenfield generation.
🚗 E-mobility
A fast-emerging segment already backed by EU financing, including ElectriFI's venture investment in Ugandan electric mobility. Two-wheeler fleets, charging infrastructure and battery-swap networks are scaling now.
⚡ Energy Efficiency
Industrial energy applications, network loss reduction and smart-metering programmes — directly tied to the EUR 1.9 bn distribution envelope and open to European technology and service providers.
Sources: MEMD, National Energy Compact (Mission 300); EU / EDFI investment track record in Uganda.
Why Uganda, Why Now
Seven Reasons the World's
Smartest Capital is Looking East
Uganda's renewable energy investment case is not theoretical. It is grounded in policy, regulation, revenue frameworks and EU support infrastructure that reduce risk and accelerate time to return.
Bankable 20-Year Revenue Certainty
Standardised PPAs with UETCL — a government-backed bulk purchaser — eliminate off-take risk for 20 years. Currency and inflation protections are embedded. REFiT tariffs are above each technology's levelised cost of electricity, designed to deliver a return.
95% Renewable Grid — and 6× Headroom to 2030
Uganda's 2,099 MW grid is already 95% renewable, so new EU investment reinforces rather than disrupts the energy mix — and the Government's 13,644 MW ambition by 2030 means the market is set to grow more than sixfold. Growth, not displacement, is the investment thesis.
Investor-Protective Legal Framework
The Investment Code Act (2019) guarantees: protection against expropriation; free profit repatriation; ICSID dispute resolution access; and a One-Stop Centre that delivers an Investment Licence in 48 hours at no cost.
EU De-Risking Stack — Unique to European Investors
EFSD+ guarantees, EIB co-financing, KfW GET FiT top-up premiums, and MIGA political risk insurance create a blended finance package available exclusively to EU-backed projects. This reduces effective cost of capital by 200–400 basis points.
Double Taxation Agreements with Key EU States
Uganda has DTAs in force with Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom — substantially reducing the tax burden on dividends, interest and royalties repatriated to European parent companies.
900 Million Consumers via EAC, COMESA and AfCFTA
Uganda's strategic location and regional trade memberships mean electricity generation projects can export power to neighbouring countries, creating revenue diversification beyond the domestic PPA. Cross-border interconnector investment is a growing priority.
Full EUSBH Support — From Introduction to Deal Close
The EU Private Sector Development Project (EUSBH) provides free on-demand services: regulatory navigation, due diligence on Ugandan counterparts, facilitated authority introductions, and Deal Room matchmaking at the Forum. EU investors are not entering Uganda alone.
Uganda–EU Business Forum 2026
Your opportunity window is
October 2026.
Two days at the Serena Hotel Kampala with investment-ready project pipelines, curated B2B matchmaking, and direct meetings with ERA, UIA, MEMD and EU financing institutions — all under one roof.
- Access the 860 MW Western Rift Valley geothermal programme
- Deal Room matchmaking with pre-screened Ugandan partners
- Direct sessions with ERA, UIA and MEMD decision-makers
- EFSD+, EIB and KfW financing desks on site
Free to attend for qualifying EU and Ugandan businesses · Registration closes September 2026