BY ALEX DON
KAMPALA, UGANDA — President Yoweri Museveni has announced that Uganda will shift its trade focus toward African markets following a recent decision by the United States to impose a 10% tariff on imports from most countries, including Uganda.
Speaking in a nationally broadcast address shared by the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) on Thursday, Museveni emphasized the importance of intra-African trade, citing the continent’s growing population and untapped market potential.
“Trump has put a tax, what shall we do? You have Africa, work on Africa,” Museveni said. “In the next 30 years, the population of Africa will be the biggest in the world. It will be one quarter of the human race.”
The president’s remarks come at a time when global trade tensions are prompting nations to reassess their export strategies. Museveni assured Ugandans that the country already has viable alternatives and does not rely solely on the U.S. market.
Odrek Rwabwogo, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development, also weighed in on Uganda’s export diversification efforts. In an interview with local media, Rwabwogo highlighted growing demand in Europe and Asia, particularly for Uganda’s grains and coffee.
“Britain has shown strong demand in the grain and coffee sectors,” Rwabwogo noted, adding that Uganda Airlines is set to launch direct flights to the UK later this year or early next month — a development expected to boost market access for Ugandan products, including bananas, grains, and coffee.
According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, total goods trade between the United States and Uganda reached $238.9 million in 2024. Uganda exported $132.6 million worth of goods to the U.S. and imported goods valued at $106.3 million.
As Uganda looks to strengthen its position in regional and global markets, the focus on Africa signals a renewed commitment to economic self-reliance and regional integration.
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