PM Nabbanja Meets King Charles III at CHOGM 2026, Seeks Support for Uganda’s Development & Climate Financing Agenda

By Ismael Kasooha

St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, has held high-level engagements with His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda, where she advocated for increased support towards Uganda’s infrastructure development and environmental conservation initiatives.

The engagement took place during the launch of the Commonwealth Nature Initiative, which brought together Heads of Government, business leaders and development partners to discuss sustainable development, environmental protection and investment opportunities across Commonwealth member states.

Rt. Hon. Nabbanja, who is leading Uganda’s delegation to CHOGM 2026, used the opportunity to highlight Uganda’s development priorities, particularly the need to mobilise financing for strategic infrastructure projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

During her engagement with King Charles III, the Prime Minister appreciated the United Kingdom’s continued support towards Uganda’s development agenda and appealed for enhanced cooperation in financing transformative infrastructure projects.

She underscored the importance of the Standard Gauge Railway in strengthening regional connectivity, reducing transportation costs, facilitating trade and accelerating Uganda’s economic transformation.

The Prime Minister also extended an invitation to His Majesty King Charles III to visit Uganda, reaffirming the country’s commitment to strengthening the longstanding bilateral relationship between Uganda and the United Kingdom.

Uganda Reaffirms Commitment to Environmental Conservation

Addressing the Commonwealth Nature Initiative, Rt. Hon. Nabbanja reiterated Uganda’s commitment to protecting biodiversity, restoring degraded ecosystems and promoting sustainable management of natural resources.

On behalf of the Government of Uganda, the Prime Minister announced the country’s endorsement of the Commonwealth Nature Initiative and outlined Uganda’s commitments towards achieving global biodiversity conservation targets.

“Uganda endorses the Commonwealth Nature Initiative and pledges to restore degraded landscapes under our National Restoration Strategy by 2030,” she stated.

She further announced Uganda’s commitment to expanding protected areas, strengthening community-based conservation and establishing Special Conservation Areas in support of the global target of conserving at least 30 per cent of the world’s land and oceans by 2030, commonly referred to as the 30×30 target.

The Prime Minister emphasised that environmental conservation remains a critical priority for Uganda, given the country’s dependence on natural resources for livelihoods, agriculture, tourism and economic development.

Prime Minister Calls for Innovative Nature Financing

Rt. Hon. Nabbanja called upon the Commonwealth Secretariat, development partners and international financial institutions to strengthen financing mechanisms that enable developing countries to implement sustainable environmental conservation programmes.

She observed that more than 70 per cent of Ugandans depend on nature-based resources for their livelihoods, making environmental protection essential to the country’s socioeconomic development.

“We cannot protect nature without financing nature,” the Prime Minister emphasised.

She advocated for innovative financing mechanisms, including debt-for-nature swaps, biodiversity credits and direct access to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, to support conservation and ecosystem restoration initiatives.

The Prime Minister noted that for developing and landlocked countries such as Uganda, as well as Small Island Developing States, investing in nature is an economic necessity rather than a luxury.

She stressed that sustainable conservation efforts must be supported by predictable, accessible and affordable financing arrangements that respond to the unique challenges faced by developing countries.

Uganda Offers to Host Commonwealth Nature Finance Roundtable in 2027

In a further demonstration of Uganda’s commitment to advancing the Commonwealth environmental agenda, Rt. Hon. Nabbanja announced the country’s readiness to host a Commonwealth Nature Finance Roundtable in Kampala in 2027.

The proposed roundtable would provide a platform for governments, development partners, investors and conservation organisations to explore practical financing solutions and translate environmental commitments into viable, investment-ready projects.

The Prime Minister underscored the need to move beyond policy declarations towards concrete partnerships, resource mobilisation and implementation of programmes that deliver measurable environmental and socioeconomic benefits.

During the Commonwealth Nature Initiative engagements, several Heads of Government, including the Prime Minister of Australia, His Excellency Anthony Albanese, expressed support for strengthening international cooperation on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

Strengthening Partnerships for a Prosperous Commonwealth

Later, the Prime Minister participated in the Commonwealth Business Forum, where discussions focused on strengthening trade, investment and partnerships among Commonwealth member states.

Uganda’s participation in CHOGM 2026 provides an opportunity to advance its development priorities, attract investment, strengthen diplomatic relations and promote international cooperation in strategic sectors, including infrastructure, trade, environmental conservation and sustainable economic growth.

The 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is taking place from 1 to 4 November 2026 in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, under the theme “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.”

The meeting brings together leaders and representatives from the 56 Commonwealth member countries to deliberate on shared development challenges, explore investment opportunities and strengthen cooperation towards inclusive and sustainable prosperity.

Uganda’s participation reinforces the Government’s commitment to leveraging international partnerships to accelerate national development, promote environmental sustainability and advance the country’s long-term socioeconomic transformation.