Uganda’s ambition to build a US$500 billion economy by 2040 could come at a significant cost to future generations unless the country develops a comprehensive national sustainability plan, researchers and accounting experts have warned.

The concerns come amid findings that many corporations in Uganda are not yet adequately prepared to integrate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into their operations, even as government pursues its 15-year Tenfold Growth Strategy.

Prof. Twaha Kaawaase Kigongo said the strategy is largely anchored on sectors that require responsible investment and careful management to ensure that economic growth does not undermine the environment, communities and the wider ecosystem.

The priority sectors include mining, particularly oil and gas, tourism, agriculture and agro-industrialisation, as well as science, technology and innovation, especially in areas such as waste management.

Kigongo argued that Uganda cannot achieve its ambitious economic growth targets without placing sustainability at the centre of its development agenda.

He highlighted several risks that could undermine the strategy, including recent drought conditions that have affected the coffee sector, threats to tourism attractions and the potential environmental damage associated with oil and mineral extraction if proper sustainability measures are not implemented.

He made the remarks during the 2nd ICPAU Research Conference 2026, organised

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