Africa-Press – Uganda. Uganda’s trade deficit with East African Community (EAC) partner states narrowed sharply in September 2025, according to the latest report from the Bank of Uganda. The deficit reduced by 31 percent, dropping from Shs 571.5 billion (USD 155.45 million) in August 2025 to Shs 394.1 billion (USD 107.21 million) in September 2025.
The central bank attributes this improvement largely to a 13.1 percent decline in the import bill. Imports decreased from Shs 1.48 trillion (USD 403.84 million) in August to Shs 1.28 trillion (USD 350.80 million) in September 2025.
The report indicates that imports from several key EAC partner states fell significantly. Imports from Tanzania reduced by 21.7 percent, equivalent to Shs 184.5 billion (USD 50.26 million). Imports from Kenya fell by 1.6 percent, amounting to Shs 9.4 billion (USD 2.57 million). Rwanda registered a 29.7 percent decline, representing Shs 2.97 billion (USD 0.81 million), while Burundi’s imports decreased by 8.6 percent, translating to Shs 73 million (USD 0.02 million).
Despite the improvement in the trade balance, Uganda’s export receipts declined marginally by 1.9 percent, falling from Shs 912.2 billion (USD 248.39 million) in August to Shs 895.3 billion (USD 243.59 million) in September 2025.
Exports to Rwanda recorded the sharpest fall, dropping from Shs 131.5 billion (USD 35.85 million) in August to Shs 82.1 billion (USD 22.37 million) in September. Declines were also registered in exports to South Sudan, which fell from Shs 156.3 billion (USD 42.61 million) to Shs 147.7 billion (USD 40.30 million), exports to Tanzania, which decreased from Shs 53.9 billion (USD 14.68 million) to Shs 46.8 billion (USD 12.76 million), and exports to Burundi, which declined from Shs 18.9 billion (USD 5.14 million) to Shs 13.1 billion (USD 3.58 million).
In contrast, exports to Kenya and the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) showed notable improvements. Exports to Kenya increased by 13.7 percent, rising from Shs 191.4 billion (USD 52.29 million) in August to Shs 217.8 billion (USD 59.45 million) in September. Exports to the DRC grew by 7.5 percent, moving from Shs 358.3 billion (USD 97.82 million) to Shs 382.8 billion (USD 105.13 million) over the same period.
Bank of Uganda Governor Michel Atingi-Ego highlighted that the rise in exports to Kenya followed recent bilateral negotiations aimed at removing tariff and non-tariff barriers that had previously hindered Uganda’s products from accessing the Kenyan market.
On a year-on-year basis, however, Uganda recorded a wider trade deficit with the EAC, expanding from Shs 162.8 billion (USD 44.26 million) in September 2024 to Shs 394.1 billion (USD 107.21 million) in September 2025. Dr Atingi-Ego explained that the widening gap was largely driven by a 37.5 percent increase in imports, which more than offset a 15.6 percent rise in export earnings over the same period.
The report further shows that the most significant surge in imports was from Kenya, increasing from Shs 299.5 billion (USD 81.83 million) in September 2024 to Shs 587.4 billion (USD 160.55 million) in September 2025. Meanwhile, the strongest growth in export earnings came from trade with the Democratic Republic of Congo, rising from Shs 250.7 billion (USD 68.47 million) to Shs 382.8 billion (USD 105.13 million) year on year.
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