Browsing: Business

Bank of Uganda Governor Dr Michael Atingi-Ego has paid an emotional but pointed tribute to the late Prof Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, calling him the architect of Uganda’s economic stability and a guiding force in moments of crisis. Speaking at the Tusiime Mutebile Annual Public Lecture at Makerere University, Atingi-Ego outlined how the central bank is now expanding Mutebile’s legacy through innovation—using digital tools, modern payment systems and fintech inclusion to strengthen Uganda’s economic resilience.

A new study by the Economic Policy Research Centre warns that the European Union’s deforestation-free trade rules—designed to protect forests—may end up hurting small coffee farmers in Uganda and Indonesia. With strict traceability demands and rising compliance costs, researchers say millions of growers risk losing access to Europe’s market unless the policy is implemented more gradually and with stronger support for producing countries.

Uganda Revenue Authority has begun enforcing long-standing laws requiring tax residents to declare income earned anywhere in the world. Backed by new global data-sharing systems, the URA is now targeting foreign salaries, rentals, digital earnings, and offshore accounts previously kept out of sight. As transparency tightens, millions of Ugandans earning abroad—whether openly or quietly—must now comply or face penalties, interest, and retrospective assessments.

Uganda’s economy turned a quiet corner in October 2025. With inflation easing, the Shilling firming up, and exports surging by over 35%, the data paints a hopeful picture. But experts warn that these gains are fragile—heavily dependent on volatile commodity markets and challenged by high borrowing costs. This report unpacks the numbers, the narrative, and the stakes.

In Uganda’s bustling markets, bales of second-hand clothes tell a story of survival and struggle. A new Gateway Research Centre report reveals a billion-shilling paradox — a sector that sustains hundreds of thousands of young traders yet frustrates the government’s dream of industrial self-reliance. As policymakers push for bans and higher taxes, experts warn that killing the trade before building local capacity could leave millions worse off.

As Uganda’s job market evolves and formal employment structures take shape, a quiet legal battle is unfolding in boardrooms. Non-compete clauses—once seen as tools to protect business secrets—are now raising questions about fairness, innovation, and economic growth. Prosper Ahabwe Julian examines whether these clauses are a necessary safeguard for employers or a subtle barrier holding back the nation’s brightest talents.

At the 2025 Specialty Coffee Association of Japan Expo, Uganda’s coffee story took a bold new turn. With government and embassy support, producers shared a single booth—and a single message: quality, sustainability, and unity. The result was more than trade—it was diplomacy in a cup. From Arabica highlands to Robusta heartlands, Uganda is brewing a global reputation one roast at a time.

Uganda’s economy is growing faster than most in the region, but the World Bank’s latest Uganda Economic Update warns that cracks are forming beneath the surface. While GDP has surged nearly 7% this year, weak tax collection, rising debt, and underfunded social services threaten to stall the country’s momentum. The Bank says Uganda must rethink how it raises—and spends—its money if the promise of growth is to reach ordinary citizens.

Uganda’s digital loan boom has made borrowing as simple as a tap on a phone—but convenience comes at a crushing cost. With interest rates soaring above 100 percent and unregulated lenders multiplying, families are losing land, friendships are collapsing, and borrowers are drowning in debt. What began as a lifeline is fast becoming a nationwide trap.

In Uganda’s Nakaseke district, dairy farmer John Vian has discovered that the secret to survival isn’t selling raw milk but transforming it into yoghurt. With one 20-liter jerrycan, he can triple his earnings, extending shelf life, stabilizing income, and branding his product for supermarket shelves. His story highlights the promise—and challenges—of value addition in Uganda’s dairy sector.