KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s gold sector has delivered a massive boost to the economy, recording its highest-ever export earnings in a single month following a spectacular 135 percent surge in shipments, according to central bank figures.
Gold exports soared to $964.6m in October, a near-billion dollar windfall that broke all previous records and demonstrated the commodity’s increasing importance as a top foreign exchange earner.
The sharp jump came immediately after a short-term slump, revealing both the volatility and the expanding capacity of the country’s formal export channels.
Bank of Uganda data shows earnings began strong in August at $526.33m but slipped by approximately 22 percent to $410.99m in September. October’s rebound, however, saw earnings climb 135 percent from the September low and 83 percent higher than the August figure.
Volume, Not Just Price
The record earnings were driven by a significant increase in physical volumes, not just favorable price movements in the global market.
The country exported 8,298 kilograms of gold in October, more than double the 3,765 kilograms shipped the previous month. This suggests that a larger quantity of gold is being channelled through Uganda’s regulated export systems.
This “golden quarter” performance is a crucial development for policymakers, providing a much-needed foreign exchange injection that can help stabilize the shilling, strengthen external financial buffers and free up resources for public investments.
Experts argue that for Uganda to sustain this boom, the government must tighten governance and traceability in the gold trade, curb illicit flows, and move the focus toward value addition, such as encouraging refining and processing within the country. The three-month pattern—a quick dip followed by a massive surge—highlights the inherent risk of exposure to sharp swings in global demand and regional trade dynamics.
