Uganda recorded its highest export earnings ever in 2025, bringing in US$14.4 billion, equivalent to about UGX53.643 trillion, according to Secretary to the Treasury Ramathan Ggoobi. He revealed the figures while appearing before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to respond to issues raised in the Auditor General’s December 2025 report on the Ministry of Finance.
The announcement marks a major milestone for Uganda’s economy. It is the first time the country has reached that level of export revenue, a sign of how much the export sector has expanded in recent years. Reports on Ggoobi’s remarks say the strong performance was driven mainly by growth in gold, coffee, and tourism, which have become some of Uganda’s biggest foreign exchange earners.
According to figures reported from the same briefing, gold exports brought in about US$5.8 billion, while coffee earned about US$2.4 billion in 2025. Tourism also continued its recovery, contributing around US$1.7 billion in the 2024/25 financial year as visitor activity improved.
Ggoobi’s remarks came during a tense session before MPs, where the Finance Ministry was also being questioned over domestic arrears and findings in the Auditor General’s report. Even so, the export figure stood out as one of the clearest signs that Uganda’s economy is showing resilience despite wider fiscal pressure.
The record earnings also reflect a broader shift in Uganda’s trade profile. Over the years, the country has been working to reduce dependence on a narrow range of traditional exports and expand into more products and services. That effort now appears to be paying off, with export growth helping strengthen the country’s overall economic outlook.
For Uganda, the US$14.4 billion milestone is more than just a number. It is a signal that exports are becoming a stronger pillar of the economy and a key source of confidence as the government looks to growth, job creation, and foreign exchange stability in the years ahead.
