Uganda’s trade deficit with EAC partner states hits $44.33m

KAMPALA - During the month of March 2026, Uganda traded at a deficit worth $44.33m with the East African Community (EAC) partner states, compared to a $59.95m deficit registered a month earlier.

A trade deficit occurs when a country imports (buys) more physical products from other countries than it exports (sells) to them.

The Ministry of Finance's performance of the economy report for April 2026 indicates that the deficit of $44.33m was on account of a 17.0% increase in export receipts, which more than offset the 9.2% increase in the import bill over the same period.

Total exports to the region amounted to $314.96m, while imports amounted to $359.30m during the month.

At a country-specific level, Uganda traded at surpluses with Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and the DR Congo worth $9.48m, $29.05m, $40.35m and $132.09m respectively.
On the other hand, Uganda traded at deficits with Kenya and Tanzania, amounting to $102.45m and $170.20m, respectively.

These trade deficits are partly attributed to the non-tariff barriers, which continue to constrain Uganda’s exports to these two countries.

Compared to the same month last year (March 2025), the trade deficit narrowed from $77.00m, to $44.33m this year as the export earnings grew at a much faster pace than the import bill over this period.

Trade surplus recorded

The report also shows that during the month of March 2026, Uganda recorded a trade surplus with both the Middle East and European Union, amounting to $371.47m and $25.24m, respectively.

On the other hand, trade deficits were recorded with Asia ($96.2m), Rest of Africa ($277.95m), and Rest of Europe at $14.76m.