KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s merchandise export earnings rose to a 10-year high of $13.43 billion in 2025, marking a dramatic increase from $2.67 billion recorded a decade earlier.
The strong growth was mainly driven by gold exports, which brought in more than $6 billion, making gold Uganda’s top export product. The rise in gold earnings reflects increased refining activities, higher global prices, and stronger demand in international markets.
According to trade officials, the growth also came from improved performance in other key exports such as coffee, fish, maize, and industrial products. Coffee remains one of Uganda’s traditional foreign exchange earners, while regional trade within East Africa has continued to expand.
Government authorities say the record export figures show progress in industrialisation and value addition. In recent years, Uganda has invested in mineral processing, agriculture, and manufacturing to reduce reliance on raw exports.
The increase in exports has helped strengthen foreign exchange reserves and support the stability of the Ugandan shilling. Economists note that higher export earnings improve the country’s balance of trade and attract more foreign investment.
However, experts also warn that heavy dependence on gold exports could expose the country to global price changes. They recommend diversifying exports further by boosting manufacturing, agro-processing, and technology sectors.
Despite these concerns, the 2025 figures mark a major milestone for Uganda’s economy, showing significant growth in trade performance over the past decade.
