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Istanbul Africa Trade Company

Country Profiles

Uganda

The Republic of Uganda is located in East-Central Africa and it is bordered by Kenya, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania. The population of Uganda  is 43 million and its GDP is $25 Billion.

Uganda gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1962 and the current constitution is effective since 1995. English and Swahili are the official languages. Its capital city is Kampala with a population of around 1.5 million people. The country has faced civil wars and conflicts since its independence. The current president came to power in 1986 after a guerilla war.

Uganda’s main import and export partners are China and the United Arab Emirates. Uganda also has strong commercial relations with its border countries. It exports 45% of its products to African countries. Uganda’s economy is driven by agriculture and gold mining. Coffee constitutes 20% of all exports, while gold constitutes 15%.

Turkish Embassy in Uganda was opened very recently in 2010. Since that time, the political and commercial relations developed quickly. Turkish companies have been looking for business opportunities in Uganda, and Turkish Exporters’ Assembly organized the Turkey-Uganda Businss Forum in 2017. Uganda is expected to extract petroleum in 2020 and Turkish companis can find opportunities in the machinery and construction sector.

Below, you can see the fact sheet, macroeconomic outlook and trade relations of Uganda with Turkey.

Four charts for Uganda. Population rises from about 24 million in 2000 to 42 million in 2017. GDP grows from about US$6 billion to US$26 billion. Total imports run about twice exports, around US$5.7 billion against US$2.8 billion at the end of the period. Trade with Turkey is small in both directions, with imports between about US$25 and US$50 million. Turkey's exports to Uganda in 2008 and 2017: a pie chart splitting the ten largest product groups from all others, the total value of exports, and a table naming those ten products with each one's share. The same figures are listed as a table further down this page.
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Country at a glance

Capital city
Kampala
Official language
English / Swahili
Population
43 million
GDP
$25 billion
GDP per capita
$604
Human Development Index
0.516
Top 3 import partners
China, India, UAE
Top 3 export partners
UAE, Kenya, S. Sudan
Top 3 import products
Refined Petroleum, Packaged Medicaments, Palm Oil
Top 3 export products
Gold, Coffee, Raw Tobacco
Trade balance
-$3.05B in net imports

Source: Istanbul Africa Trade Company, Africa Economic Report (2019). Figures as published, reflecting data to 2017.

Turkey's exports to this market

Source: Istanbul Africa Trade Company, Africa Economic Report. Figures as published.

2008

$46 million

Top 10 products account for 86.1% of the total.

2008
ProductShare of total
Refined Petroleum57.8%
Raw Iron Bars13%
Rubber Tires3.4%
Industrial Printers3.3%
Iron Blocks3.1%
Hot-Rolled Iron1.7%
Pasta1.3%
Toilet Paper1.1%
Other Furniture0.8%
Iron Structures0.7%

2017

$31 million

Top 10 products account for 41.8% of the total.

2017
ProductShare of total
Wheat Flours9.3%
Pasta6%
Stone Processing Machines4%
Yeast3.6%
Insulated Wire3.6%
Plastic Pipes3.5%
Utility Meters3.4%
Mill Machinery3.2%
Borax2.8%
Iron Blocks2.4%

Frequently asked questions

Uganda: what does Turkey export there?
In 2017, Turkey's exports to this market were valued at $31 million. The ten largest product groups made up 41.8% of that total, led by Wheat Flours; Pasta; Stone Processing Machines.
Uganda: who are its main trading partners?
The three largest import partners are China, India, UAE. The three largest export partners are UAE, Kenya, S. Sudan.
Uganda: what does the country import?
The three largest import products are Refined Petroleum; Packaged Medicaments; Palm Oil. The three largest export products are Gold; Coffee; Raw Tobacco.
Uganda: how big is the economy?
Population 43 million, GDP $25 billion, and $604 per person. The Human Development Index is 0.516.
Uganda: does it run a trade surplus or a deficit?
The trade balance is -$3.05B in net imports.

Related reading

Other country profiles

Reviewed by Burak Unal, Director of African Markets

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