Uganda

In 2022, home care continues to benefit from the raised hygiene awareness brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus. Despite the popularity of traditional alternatives and high poverty levels in the…

Authoritarian tendencies and pervasive corruption stunt Uganda’s private sector development. Thanks to its rich natural resources, the country is expected to recover strongly from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but it remains exposed to…

Tissue and hygiene continues to develop, although sales in most categories are limited to affluent urban-dwellers. In rural areas, most prefer traditional options, with sales limited to the most basic of disposable items. However, rising incomes,…

Uganda is a country in which the consumption of alcoholic drinks is frequent, heavy and widespread, to the extent that problem drinking has become a source of major social concern. Prior to the pandemic, economic development, rising income levels and…

Having declined during 2021, retail volume sales of snacks are expected to return to growth during 2022, as restrictions on movement are lifted and the economic shock of the pandemic begins to fade. Chocolate confectionery and ice cream, which were…

Uganda’s tobacco industry is dominated by BAT Uganda and local player Leaf Tobacco & Commodities, with sales limited to cigarettes. Recent years have seen a dramatic shift away from premium cigarette brands as rising prices due to tax increases have…

Uganda is a major exporter of tea and coffee and these are by far the most popular categories of hot drinks. Demand for other hot drinks is low and confined to affluent urban dwellers. The wide availability of unpackaged tea presents challenges, with…

Soft drinks witnessed a slight rebound in 2021 as COVID-19 restrictions began to lift and lifestyles made a slow return to normality. The poor quality of tap water makes bottled water a necessity, while carbonates are popular for their wide…

Staple foods registered stable growth in retail volume terms in 2022 with demand remaining focused around baked goods and rice, pasta and noodles. The easing of COVID-19 restrictions boosted the local economy and helped to resolve some supply chain…

Retail constant value sales of consumer health will exhibit stronger growth in 2022 in line with the economy reopening. While COVID-19 continues to support demand – particularly for vitamins and dietary supplements and cough and cold remedies – the…

During 2020, retailing current value sales for the first time in the review period due a combination of to the economic shock of the pandemic and restrictions on movement, but they rebounded strongly in 2021. The competitive landscape in store-based…

The resumption of economic activities from 2021 and the full lifting of COVID-19 restrictions from the beginning of January 2022 enabled dairy products and alternatives to return to pre-pandemic growth levels in 2022. Nonetheless, economic pressures…

Beauty and personal care in Uganda is hampered by low incomes and poor rural distribution. However, rising incomes in urban areas and widening distribution were encouraging sales of certain categories with growing sophistication characterising urban…

Demand for cooking ingredients and meals remained centred around edible oils and sauces, dips and condiments in 2022. The easing of COVID-19 restrictions boosted the local economy and helped to resolve some supply chain issues, with category sales…

The number of households is set to increase rapidly in Uganda over 2021-2040, with couples with children remaining the leading household type. Household earnings will reach pre-pandemic levels by 2022, and the fastest household expenditure growth…

Uganda’s population will increase rapidly in 2021-2040 due to strong rates of natural increase. It will continue to be one of the youngest countries in the world due to high birth rates and low life expectancy. A huge surge in population should make…

Uganda’s consumer income is expected to almost double over 2021-2040 yet remain among the lowest globally. Consumer market development is set to be constrained by persisting inequalities, with discretionary spending remaining subdued due to the…

Lugazi and Kampala are Uganda’s most economically vibrant cities. The cities’ economic strength is partially supported by higher consumer expenditure and more extensive digitalisation, compared to the other Ugandan cities. Nevertheless, Mbarara holds…

Uganda’s economy followed a path of recovery in 2021, although GDP remained well-below the historical average due to COVID-19-related lockdown measures and subdued growth in exports. Meanwhile, public debt increased, due to higher expenditure on the…

Uganda continues to face multiple challenges relating to living standards and the environment. Limited access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation, as well as inadequate food consumption, remain the key pressure points on the country’s…