Uganda has strengthened its development partnership with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) following a high-level meeting between Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST) Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi and BADEA President H.E. Abdullah Khalil AlMusaibeeh on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The meeting focused on ongoing development projects in Uganda and explored opportunities for further cooperation as the government seeks to accelerate investments in critical sectors including health, infrastructure and private sector development.
During the discussions, Dr. Ggoobi expressed appreciation to BADEA for its continued financial support to Uganda, particularly in the health sector where the bank is playing a key role in financing major healthcare infrastructure projects.
Among the flagship projects supported by BADEA is the construction and equipping of the Uganda Heart Institute in Naguru, a specialized facility expected to significantly enhance the country’s capacity to diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases.
The project is being implemented in partnership with the OPEC Fund for International Development and the Saudi Fund for Development.
Dr. Ggoobi noted that the project represents a major milestone in Uganda’s efforts to strengthen specialized healthcare services and reduce the need for patients to seek expensive treatment abroad.
In addition to the Uganda Heart Institute, BADEA is financing the refurbishment and equipping of Bugiri General Hospital, a project aimed at improving healthcare delivery and expanding access to quality medical services in eastern Uganda.
The PSST also commended BADEA for its sustained support to the Uganda Development Bank (UDB), which has become a key vehicle for financing strategic investments in the country’s productive sectors.
According to Dr. Ggoobi, BADEA has so far extended seven lines of credit to UDB, both directly and through the Government of Uganda, enabling the bank to provide long-term financing to businesses and development projects.
Currently, BADEA is financing UDB through two separate lines of credit channelled through the government. These include a USD 50 million facility from the bank’s public sector financing window and an additional USD 100 million facility from its private sector financing window.
The funding is expected to boost UDB’s capacity to support enterprises in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and value addition, which are considered critical to Uganda’s economic transformation agenda.
The meeting comes at a time when Uganda is seeking to deepen partnerships with international development finance institutions to support implementation of the Fourth National Development Plan and drive sustainable economic growth.
For his part, BADEA President Abdullah Khalil AlMusaibeeh thanked Dr. Ggoobi and the Government of Uganda for the strong cooperation that has characterized relations between the two sides over the years.
He reaffirmed BADEA’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s development priorities and pledged continued assistance for projects aimed at improving livelihoods, strengthening public services and promoting economic development.
The discussions underscore the growing importance of development finance partnerships in supporting Uganda’s ambitious infrastructure and social development programmes amid increasing demand for investment in health, industrialization and private sector growth.
Uganda has maintained close cooperation with BADEA over the years, benefiting from financing in sectors ranging from health and infrastructure to private sector development. The latest engagement signals continued confidence by the Arab lender in Uganda’s economic prospects and development agenda.
With ongoing investments in healthcare facilities and expanded financing for development banking, officials say the partnership is expected to contribute significantly to improving service delivery, creating jobs and supporting inclusive economic growth across the country.
