Canada-Uganda relations

On this page

• Bilateral relations
• Trade relations
• International assistance
• Partnerships and organizations
• Canada-Uganda fact sheet

Bilateral relations

Canada established diplomatic relations with Uganda in 1962 shortly after Uganda’s independence. In Uganda, Canada is represented by the High Commission of Canada in Kenya, in Nairobi, and by an Honorary Consul in Kampala. In Canada, Uganda maintains a High Commission in Ottawa.

Canada’s interests in Uganda centre on promoting human rights and democratic governance, supporting refugees in the region, and promoting regional security and stability. Canada and Uganda share an interest in addressing the humanitarian needs of those affected by the current security crises in the region. Uganda contributes military and police personnel to several UN missions, including in South Sudan and Somalia, and is a significant troop contributor to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia. From the UN Regional Service Centre (RSCE) in Entebbe, Uganda, Canada provided tactical airlift support to UN missions in the region, assisting with the transport of troops, equipment and supplies. The RSCE also houses the UN C4ISR Academy for Peace Operations (UNCAP), a UN training centre which receives funding from Canada through the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program.

Trade relations

In 2021, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Uganda reached $51.5 million. This consisted of $33.6 million in exports from Canada and $17.9 million in imports from Uganda. Top Canadian exports to Uganda mainly included aircraft and spacecraft parts, textile articles, cereals and electrical machinery. Top Canadian imports from Uganda were primarily coffee and tea, live plant cuttings, edible fruits and nuts as well as fish.

Related links

• Trade and investment agreements
• Import / Export controls
• Doing business in Uganda

International assistance

The majority of Canada’s international assistance to Uganda is channeled through long-term institutional support to multilateral organizations such as UN agencies, the World Bank and the African Development Bank. Local organizations can apply for support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). Recent CFLI projects have focused on climate change and human rights.

Since 2017, Uganda has hosted the largest number of refugees in Africa, now more than 1.5 million people, with most coming from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Canada provides humanitarian funding to UN agencies and NGOs to help meet the life-sustaining needs of refugees living throughout Uganda.

Partnerships and organizations

To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Uganda work closely in multilateral fora, such as:

• Commonwealth
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• International Criminal Court (ICC)
• United Nations (UN)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• World Trade Organization (WTO)