PSFU Participates in the 2026 STACON Meeting in Dar es Salaam
PSFU Participates in the 2026 STACON Meeting in Dar es Salaam
Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) participated in the 2026 Stakeholders Consultative Committee (STACON) Meeting, which commenced on Monday, 20 April 2026, at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The high-level meeting convened a broad range of stakeholders from Central Corridor Member States, including government officials, private sector representatives, development partners, and corridor institutions, to deliberate on strategic interventions aimed at improving trade facilitation and transport efficiency across the region.
The Central Corridor remains a critical trade artery linking the hinterland countries of East and Central Africa to the Port of Dar es Salaam. As such, STACON serves as a key platform for reviewing performance, identifying bottlenecks, and aligning policy and operational priorities to ensure the corridor remains competitive, efficient, and responsive to the evolving needs of regional trade.
Uganda’s delegation was led by Mr. James Mawa from the Ministry of Works and Transport, alongside representatives from key government agencies involved in trade, infrastructure, and logistics. Their participation reflects Uganda’s continued commitment to strengthening regional integration and enhancing the movement of goods and services through the corridor.
PSFU was represented at the meeting by Dr. Julius Byaruhanga, Director of Policy and Business Development, and Ms. Husnah Natukundah, representing the CEO, Mr. Stephen Asiimwe. Through its participation, PSFU is amplifying the voice of Uganda’s private sector, ensuring that business perspectives and practical challenges are integrated into regional policy discussions and implementation frameworks.
Deliberations on the first day of the meeting focused on several critical areas. These included a review of the 2025 Central Corridor Transport Observatory Performance Report, which provides data-driven insights into key performance indicators such as transit times, costs, and efficiency levels along the corridor. Updates were also presented on the Joint Annual Route Assessment Survey, highlighting persistent bottlenecks and progress made in addressing non-tariff barriers.
In addition, stakeholders received updates on major infrastructure and safety initiatives, including the Lake Tanganyika and Lake Kivu Navigation Safety Projects, which are aimed at improving maritime safety and boosting trade across inland waterways. Discussions also covered the ongoing railway survey along the TAZARA line, a strategic infrastructure component with significant potential to enhance multimodal transport and reduce the cost of freight movement across the region.
The discussions underscored a shared commitment among stakeholders to accelerate reforms and investments that will improve corridor performance. Key priority areas include reducing logistics costs, shortening transit times, enhancing infrastructure resilience, and strengthening coordination among border agencies to facilitate seamless cross-border trade.
PSFU continues to advocate for a more efficient and predictable trade environment, emphasizing the importance of public-private dialogue in addressing systemic challenges. The Foundation is also championing policies that support increased private sector participation in infrastructure development and service delivery, as well as the adoption of digital solutions to streamline trade processes.
As the STACON meeting progresses, PSFU remains actively engaged in shaping outcomes that will contribute to a more integrated, competitive, and business-friendly regional trade ecosystem, ultimately supporting Uganda’s economic growth and the broader development of the Central Corridor.
