Uganda flag Uganda: Economic and Political Overview

Foreign trade figures of Uganda

Foreign Trade in Figures

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 20202021202220232024
Imports of Goods (million USD) 8,2519,0869,74811,78014,200
Exports of Goods (million USD) 4,1493,9653,5776,3057,700
Imports of Services (million USD) 3,0773,0403,0903,6344,275
Exports of Services (million USD) 1,0211,5161,6231,8792,069

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Indicators 20202021202220232024
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 37.041.734.533.341.5
Trade Balance (million USD) -2,637-3,046-3,672-3,149n/a
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) -4,587-4,389-4,963-4,768n/a
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 0.418.9-7.0-4.44.7
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) -1.20.2-19.70.346.4
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 21.625.922.521.724.6
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 15.415.812.011.616.9

Source: World Bank ; Latest available data

Foreign Trade Forecasts 2025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)2028 (e)2029 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) 1.617.411.38.0-3.6
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) 5.35.25.33.2-5.4

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 
International Economic Cooperation
Member of COMESA - Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

Member of EAC - East African Community

Member of Cotonou Agreement

Member of African Growth and Opportunity Act beneficiary country

 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2023
United Arab Emirates 21.7%
Kenya 11.7%
India 11.6%
South Sudan 8.5%
Democratic Republic of Congo 6.5%
See More Countries 40.1%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2023
China 19.5%
United Arab Emirates 12.2%
Tanzania 11.3%
India 10.7%
Kenya 7.0%
See More Countries 39.4%

Source: Comtrade, 2025. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

Main Products

6.3 bn USD of products exported in 2023
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought...Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought or not further worked than semi-manufactured or in powder form 35.3%
Coffee, whether or not roasted or decaffeinated;...Coffee, whether or not roasted or decaffeinated; coffee husks and skins; coffee substitutes containing coffee in any proportion 15.1%
Unglazed ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall...Unglazed ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles; unglazed ceramic mosaic cubes and the like, whether or not on a backing (excl. of siliceous fossil meals or similar siliceous earths, refractory ceramic goods, tiles specially adapted as table mats, ornamental articles and tiles specifically manufactured for stoves) 2.8%
Cocoa beans, whole or broken, raw or roastedCocoa beans, whole or broken, raw or roasted 2.2%
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 2.2%
See More Products 42.3%
11.8 bn USD of products imported in 2023
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 17.3%
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought...Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought or not further worked than semi-manufactured or in powder form 16.1%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 2.9%
Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined...Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined (excl. chemically modified) 2.6%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 2.4%
See More Products 58.6%

Source: Comtrade, 2025. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

 
 

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.

 

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2025. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.

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Latest Update: November 2025