Uganda

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…

In 2021 home care sales slowed after experiencing above average growth in 2020 due to the onset of COVID-19. Despite the popularity of traditional alternatives and high poverty levels in the country, population growth, retailing development and…

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 in 2021: The big picture

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

Uganda’s economy will decelerate slightly in 2020. Domestic demand should drive growth in 2020, supported by public investment under the second National Development Plan. Transport infrastructure and energy infrastructure will remain priorities, with…

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…

Cooking ingredients and meals in 2021: The big picture

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…

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 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…

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…

Starting a business or obtaining a construction permit remains a costly procedure in Uganda. Likewise, getting electricity supplied remains a major challenge, yet the country managed to make the process easier in 2020. Despite high labour force…