Uganda: Visió econòmica i política
Uganda is open to foreign trade, which accounts for one-third of its GDP (World Bank). The country is a member of numerous international organizations, such as the WTO, COMESA, EAC (East African Community), ESAAMLG (anti-money laundering group in Eastern and Southern Africa), and IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority for the Development of the Horn of Africa States). In 2023, Uganda’s top exports were gold (44.4% of total exports), coffee (13.9%), refined petroleum (1.9%), dried/salted/smoked/brined fish (1.4%), and cement (1.3%); whereas the main imports were refined petroleum (16.8%), gold (15.8%), packaged medicaments (2.9%), palm oil (2.8%), and cars (2.4% - data OEC).
In the same year, the main export destinations were India (21.1%), United Arab Emirates (15.9%), Hong Kong (10.2%), South Sudan (7.5%), and Kenya (6.2%), with imports coming chiefly from China (19.3%), United Arab Emirates (12.1%), Tanzania (11.3%), India (10.3%), and Kenya (7.4%). The country's trade policy aims to encourage cooperation and integration in East Africa to stimulate production and increase export earnings. Tariffs are not very high and the country has few non-tariff barriers to trade. However, corruption and underdeveloped infrastructure remain major obstacles to trade. The political situation in South Sudan, one of the country's main trading partners with Kenya, continues to affect trade flows.
Uganda's trade balance is structurally in deficit. In 2023, exports of goods almost doubled to USD 6.16 billion (from 3.77 one year earlier), while imports reached USD 12.15 billion (+24.9% y-o-y). As for services, exports totalled USD 2.05 billion, while imports amounted to USD 3.59 billion. The overall trade balance was estimated to be in deficit by 10.1% of GDP by the World Bank (compared to 10.5% one year earlier).
Foreign Trade Values | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Imports of Goods (million USD) | 7,696 | 8,251 | 9,086 | 9,732 | 12,159 |
Exports of Goods (million USD) | 3,564 | 4,149 | 3,965 | 3,772 | 6,162 |
Imports of Services (million USD) | 2,945 | 3,111 | 3,146 | 3,198 | 3,591 |
Exports of Services (million USD) | 2,076 | 1,160 | 1,737 | 1,840 | 2,049 |
Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Indicators | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) | 39.4 | 37.0 | 41.7 | 34.5 | 33.3 |
Trade Balance (million USD) | -2,755 | -2,637 | -3,046 | -3,673 | -3,149 |
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) | -3,623 | -4,587 | -4,389 | -4,964 | -4,768 |
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 7.1 | 0.4 | 18.9 | -7.0 | -4.4 |
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 4.3 | -1.2 | 0.2 | -19.7 | 0.3 |
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 22.3 | 21.6 | 25.9 | 22.5 | 21.7 |
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 17.1 | 15.4 | 15.8 | 12.0 | 11.6 |
Source: World Bank ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Forecasts | 2024 | 2025 (e) | 2026 (e) | 2027 (e) | 2028 (e) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 19.0 | -2.0 | 48.7 | -5.0 | 4.7 |
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 14.1 | 3.3 | 17.7 | -9.2 | 9.6 |
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data
Note: (e) Estimated Data
Member of EAC - East African Community
Member of Cotonou Agreement
Member of African Growth and Opportunity Act beneficiary country
Main Customers (% of Exports) |
2021 |
United Arab Emirates | 26.8% |
Kenya | 13.3% |
South Sudan | 12.2% |
Democratic Republic of Congo | 8.6% |
Italy | 5.3% |
See More Countries | 33.9% |
Main Suppliers (% of Imports) |
2021 |
China | 18.2% |
India | 11.6% |
Tanzania | 9.0% |
United Arab Emirates | 8.9% |
Kenya | 8.5% |
See More Countries | 43.8% |
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.
1.7 bn USD of services exported in 2021 | |
55.07% | |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 37.63% |
OtherOther | 34.60% |
Business travelBusiness travel | 17.44% |
13.16% | |
10.33% | |
9.65% | |
4.79% | |
2.67% | |
2.47% | |
0.88% | |
0.75% | |
0.24% |
3.2 bn USD of services imported in 2021 | |
52.10% | |
30.93% | |
7.98% | |
Business travelBusiness travel | 4.28% |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 3.69% |
OtherOther | 39.93% |
3.31% | |
2.60% | |
1.25% | |
0.96% | |
0.51% | |
0.37% |
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
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Actualitzacions: May 2025