Uganda exports up by 53.6% year-on-year

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Uganda’s merchandise exports grew by 53.6% in July 2025 from a year earlier, the latest performance of the economy report by the finance ministry indicates.

The August report shows that the exports rose from $812.69 million in July 2024 to $1,248.12 million in July 2025.

This growth was mainly attributed to higher export earnings from coffee, gold, sugar, base metals and products, crude oil, fruits, as well as, vegetables, among others.

The report also says Uganda’s merchandise imports grew by 47.3% from $1,049.08 million to $1,544.94 million in the period under review.

This increase was primarily attributed to higher formal private sector imports for both the oil and non-oil imports, coupled with a marginal increase in project-related Government imports.

Sophisticated economy

While reading his budget speech for the financial year 2025/26, finance minister Matia Kasaija said the economy has diversified from the traditional 3Cs, which are coffee, cotton and copper and 3Ts, which are tobacco, tea and tourism, to a more sophisticated economy.

“For example, Uganda has added 31 new products to its export basket in the last 15 years, including light-manufactured products such as steel, processed food, cement, pharmaceuticals, dairy products, ceramics, and cloth,” he said.

Kasaija also said the number of manufacturing units (factories of various sizes) increased by about 18,000 from 31,757 in 2010/11 to 50,000 in 2023/24. “As a result, this has increased the share of manufactured exports significantly,” he stated.

He noted that since the necessary foundation has already been established by intentionally prioritising investments in infrastructure, the speed of economic transformation is destined to be faster in the medium term.