Uganda recorded a trade deficit of $808.97 million with East African Community (EAC) member states in August 2026, as imports from the region significantly outstripped the country’s export earnings, according to the Uganda Development Bank’s Macro-Economic Digest.
The report indicates that Uganda earned $241.29 million from exports to the regional bloc during the month, compared with imports valued at $1.05 billion, highlighting the country’s continued dependence on goods sourced from neighbouring economies.
The deficit was largely driven by trade imbalances with Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi, whose combined export earnings from Uganda substantially exceeded the value of goods they purchased from the country.
Kenya accounted for the largest share of Uganda’s imports from the EAC, with goods valued at $714.47 million entering the country in August, while Uganda’s exports to the neighbouring market amounted to just $41.05 million.
This resulted in a bilateral trade deficit of $673.42 million, with Kenya accounting for approximately 68 per cent of Uganda’s total imports from the regional bloc.
Tanzania was Uganda’s second-largest source of imports within the EAC, supplying goods worth $203.61 million during the month, while Uganda exported goods valued at $13.81 million to the country.
The resulting trade deficit stood at $189.80 million, with Tanzania accounting for approximately 19.4 per cent of Uganda’s total imports from the region.
Uganda also recorded a trade deficit of $101.43 million with Burundi, importing goods worth $110.97 million against exports valued at $9.55 million.
However, the country-maintained trade surpluses with three other EAC partners, led by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which remained Uganda’s largest export destination within the regional bloc.
Exports to the DRC amounted to $84.30 million, compared with imports of $7.21 million, generating a trade surplus of $77.09 million. South Sudan was another important market for Ugandan goods, with exports valued at $61.27 million against imports of $4.56 million, resulting in a trade surplus of $56.71 million.
As per the report, Uganda also recorded a surplus of $21.89 million with Rwanda, earning $31.32 million from exports while importing goods worth $9.43 million. Despite these positive balances, the surpluses generated from the DRC, South Sudan and Rwanda were insufficient to offset the substantial deficits recorded with Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi.