By Ezaruku Draku Franklin

Raff Military Textile, Turkish military ware manufacturer is targeting new opportunities, with proposed entry into the Ugandan market, as part of its footprint in Africa.

The company says as Türkiye continues to strengthen its commercial ties across the globe, the company alongside other Turkish manufacturers and investors  is preparing for a high level meeting with Ugandan government officials, military leadership, manufacturers and investors to engage in joint ventures in military and other defence products manufacturing.

Eray Yükseloğlu, the Chief Executive Officer of Raff Military Textile said his company that has footprint in over 60 countries in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America is targeting Uganda because of its pace-setting economic growth on the continent.

“Uganda is one of the region’s most dynamic and fast-growing economies, and it is positioned to play a vital role as a strategic bridge for trade between Africa and Türkiye,” he said, adding that “we view our upcoming engagements in Kampala not just as a standard business trip, but as a promising, future-oriented investment that will build lasting bilateral cooperation, economic success, and mutual trust.”

Raff Military Textile is a supplier of military uniforms, police gear, tactical equipment, and institutional clothing. A team Turkish firms will visit Uganda on a trade and business mission, starting from July 21, 2026 to July 25, 2026.

Yükseloğlu on his part said while they will meet different government officials including military leadership, the company wants to conduct direct detailed bilateral negotiations with local partners and explore concrete investment opportunities.

Uganda already has companies manufacturing military ware in the country and it is not clear if the company will want to partner with the established entities like the Southern Nyanza Textile Company that manufactures uniforms for the UPDF and the Uganda Police factory that manufacture uniforms for the police, or is looking for completely different partners.

Our repeated attempts to get responses from both the police and the army leadership were unsuccessful. The Turkish Embassy in Kampala that is championing the visit was also not available to explain what other investment opportunities the companies are looking to explore.

Yükseloğlu said rather than simply maintaining standard export channels, the company aims to significantly increase its regional scope by establishing permanent joint ventures in Uganda.

“By focusing on direct, ground-level collaboration with local investors, the firm intends to firmly transition from an external supplier to an integrated local partner, fostering mutual industrial growth and regional stability,” Yükseloğlu said.

Not the first time.

Uganda in the recent times has intensified its trade relations with Turkiye, that both countries say will attract more direct foreign investment. İn May, Uganda Tourism Board organised a business to business meeting between tourism sector players of the two countries, in which several entities from Uganda thrashed out partnership deals to promote Uganda as a tourism destination in Turkiye.

Turkiye’s business footprint in Uganda is rapidly expanding, with the bilateral trade growing to approximately $120 million annually, according to statistics from the Uganda Investment Authority. The country has over 100 Turkish companies operating in Uganda, spanning mega-infrastructure, manufacturing, and growing agricultural value addition.