Uganda

Republic of Uganda

English, Swahili Ugandan Shilling (UGX) English common law, customary law
AU, EAC, COMESA, AfCFTA, Commonwealth, WTO
Uganda is an East African economy with strong agricultural foundations and emerging oil and gas potential. The country's Lake Albert oil fields (operated by TotalEnergies and CNOOC) and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) to Tanzania's Tanga port represent transformative investments expected to begin production soon.

Agriculture employs approximately 70% of the population, with coffee as the primary export commodity (Africa's largest exporter of robusta coffee). The services sector, particularly financial services and telecoms, has grown significantly. Kampala is emerging as a startup hub with companies like SafeBoda and Tugende.

Challenges include high youth unemployment, infrastructure gaps, and governance concerns. Uganda benefits from EAC membership providing access to a 300+ million person market.
Snapshot Focus Sectors Regulations & Taxes Businesses (199) People (30) Deals (10)

Snapshot

Population~48.0 MWorld Bank WDI
GDP (current USD)$65.0 BIMF WEO
GDP per Capita$1,060IMF WEO
GDP Growth6.00%IMF WEO
Inflation (y/y)~3.40%Central Bank / IMF
Policy Rate (CBR (Bank of Uganda))9.50%Central Bank
Unemployment2.80%ILO / National Stats
Internet Use~26.00%World Bank WDI
Electrification~42.00%World Bank WDI
CPI Score (Rank)26.0/100 (#141)Transparency Intl
HDI (Rank)0.550 (#166)UNDP HDR
Credit RatingB- (S&P) / B2 (Moody's) / B+ (Fitch)S&P / Moody's / Fitch
MarketUganda Securities Exchange (USE)

Focus Sectors

Agriculture (coffee
tea
fish)
Oil & Gas (Lake Albert)
Mining
Tourism
ICT
Manufacturing
Construction
Financial Services
Education
Healthcare

Regulations & Taxes

Corporate Income Tax30% standard
VAT / Sales Tax18% standard

Business Directory (199)

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BA

Bank of Uganda

Non-profit

Uganda's central bank

Kampala
BU

Buganda Kingdom

Non-profit

Uganda's ancient kingdom

Kampala
BU

Bugisu Cooperative Union

Non-profit

Mount Elgon arabica cooperative

Mbale
BU

Bujagali Energy Limited

Corporate

Uganda's biggest hydro plant

Jinja
BW

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Non-profit

Half the world's mountain gorillas

Kanungu
CE

Centenary Bank

Corporate

Uganda's largest indigenous bank

Kampala
CI

Cipla Quality Chemicals

Corporate

Listed pharmaceutical manufacturer

Kampala
DF

DFCU Bank

Corporate

Development finance heritage

Kampala
GO

Good African Coffee

SME

Andrew Rugasira's Ugandan coffee

Kampala
HI

Hima Cement

Corporate

Lafarge in Uganda

Kasese
JE

Jesa Farm Dairy

SME

Ugandan dairy champion

Kampala
KA

Kakira Sugar Works

Corporate

East Africa's sugar giant

Jinja
View all 199 businesses

Tenders

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Uganda Railways Corporation - Works and Services under AfDF Financing

Uganda Railways Corporation

Africa Digital Rights Fund (ADRF) - 10th Round Call for Proposals

Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)

Purchase of Beekeeping Equipment - Uganda

International Union for Conservation of Nature - ESARO

Purchase of Energy Saving Cookstoves Equipment - Uganda

International Union for Conservation of Nature - ESARO

Data Notes: Population, GDP, and GDP per capita are latest IMF WEO / World Bank estimates. Inflation is year-over-year. Trade data from UN Comtrade/OEC (2023). Tax rates from PwC/KPMG country guides. CPI from Transparency International. HDI from UNDP Human Development Report.
Narrative last updated: April 8, 2026.