Uganda’s merchandise import bill hits sh4.94 trillion

KAMPALA - Uganda’s merchandise import bill has reached $1.306 billion (about sh4.94 trillion), according to the February 2026 Performance of the Economy Report by the Ministry of Finance.

“In comparison with the same month the previous year, Uganda’s merchandise imports grew by 23.2%, rising from $1,059.88 million in January 2025 to $1,306.27 million in January 2026,” the report says.

This increase was primarily attributed to higher formal private sector imports, which more than offset the decline in government imports.

Key private sector imports include mineral products excluding petroleum products, machinery and equipment, vehicles and accessories, base metals and their products, petroleum products, and animal and animal products, among others.

Conversely, a month-on-month analysis shows that merchandise imports declined by 18.5%, falling from $1.574.94 billion (about sh5.88 trillion) in December 2025 to $1.283.73 billion (about sh4.81 trillion) in January this year, due to a drop in formal private sector non-oil imports and government imports.

These imports include mineral products, vegetable products, animal products, beverages, fats and oils, base metals and their products, prepared foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco, among others.

Origin of imports

In January 2026, Asia remained Uganda’s largest source of imports, accounting for 33.9% of the total import bill.

Within Asia, China, India and Japan were the leading sources, accounting for 52.4%, 22.3% and 8.6% of imports respectively.

Other notable sources of Uganda’s imports were the rest of Africa, the East African Community and the Middle East, accounting for 29.1%, 16.8% and 11.5% respectively.