Special-Report_Doing-Business-in-Uganda-East-Africa-and-Beyond_East-African-Business-Week_Trade-Report Mar. 2015

SPECIAL REPORT
East African Business Week I February 23 - March 1, 2015

MINISTRY OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND COOPERATIVES

Doing Business in Uganda, East Africa & beyond
East African Business Week I February 23 - March 1, 2015

Trading beyond
borders

Contents

Uganda positions itself as a vital player in the regional
markets for quality goods and services.

 Overview by Hon.
Amelia Kyambadde,
the Minister of
Trade, Industry and
Cooperatives
PAGE ii

 TradeMark East
Africa plays central role in opening
up bottlenecks to
regional trade
PAGE iV

 Efforts to erase
trade barriers in the
region; interview
with Hon. Shem
Bageine, the State
Minister for East
African Community
Affairs
PAGE Vi

Intra-East African Community trade
grew to $5.5 billion in 2012, up from $4.5
billion recorded in 2011 and overall the
region is recording some of the fastest
economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa.

 Standards help harmonize the market
place

Uganda’s major export destinations
8.5%
6.5%

8.7%

8.8%

52.5%

Others

UAE

Kenya

 Ugandan exports dropped to $209.86
million in December of 2014 from $222.13
million in November of 2014. According to
latest Bank of Uganda figuree, exports averaged $106.46 million from 1993 until 2014,
reaching an all-time high of $271.08 million
in May of 2013 and a record low of $12.40 million in July of 1993.

DRC

15%

Rwanda
Sudan

Imports have gone up to $540.30 million
in December of 2014 from $470.20 million
in November of 2014. Imports in Uganda averaged $238.59 million from 1993 until 2014,
reaching an peak of $626 million in March
of 2011 and a record low of $44.20 million in
August of 1993.

Uganda mostly imports oil (24% of total
imports) followed by pharmaceutical products and capital goods. Uganda’s main
import partners are: Kenya, UAE, China and
India.
The World Bank says Uganda can earn an
additional $2.5 billion from non-traditional
trading partners in the region, and close
the trade deficit in the next five years, if it
removes trade barriers with neighbours. To
maximize its trade potential, Uganda must
look beyond the East African Community
(EAC) to all of sub-Saharan Africa. Uganda
is also a member of the Common Market for
Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

PAGE Xii

14%

$540 million
December imports

6%

$209 million
December exports