Browsing: Business

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.

In a landmark decision, the High Court has ruled that Kampala Club’s membership fees are not subject to VAT, declaring that fellowship and belonging cannot be treated as commercial supplies. The judgment shields hundreds of social and recreational clubs across Uganda from similar tax burdens.

Uganda exports billions in raw coffee, but most of the profits are roasted abroad. At Makerere, students are testing yoghurt, syrups & ready-to-drink brews—proof that value addition could change the game.

Uganda’s coffee-fueled export boom pushed trade earnings to record highs in June, but a surge in imports—driven by oil, metals, and food products—underscored the country’s growing vulnerabilities. While investor sentiment remains upbeat and inflation is easing, policymakers face mounting pressure to balance rising import costs with sustaining export momentum.

The Tax Appeals Tribunal says timelines rule supreme. ADR delays don’t save you—30 days means 30 days.

By channeling SACCOs and investment clubs into structured credit, Pride Bank positions itself at the heart of Uganda’s financial inclusion drive — and the stakes are national.

Uganda has become one of Africa’s fintech hotspots, with over 50 million registered mobile money accounts and Shs 159 trillion transacted in 2024. From rural markets to city schools, the digital wallet has changed how Ugandans live, trade, and save. But new tax battles, regional lessons, and fragile public trust now threaten to reshape the future of the country’s digital revolution.