Gateway Research Centre,Kampala

15/07/2026

𝑼𝒈𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝑬𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒄 𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕 𝑳𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒚

Uganda's trade regime is characterised with limited liberalisation, principally through its strategic adoption of import substitution policies. The government's current approach, including the stepped-up import substitution agenda, is designed to replace foreign imports with locally manufactured goods to retain foreign exchange and foster industrialisation. This is implemented through instruments such as high import tariffs, import licensing, and local content requirements, restricting the free flow of goods.
While the government has achieved notable export growth, reaching $13.4 billion in 2025, its economic strategy remains focused on protectionism. To accelerate growth, Uganda should pursue broader trade liberalisation. This involves reducing non-tariff barriers, which are estimated to cost Africa $9 billion annually, and streamlining customs procedures to eliminate delays that hinder exports. As evidence shows, trade openness has a positive long-run relationship with export growth. A shift from inward-looking policies toward a more liberalized regime would enhance competitiveness and attract investment, aligning with the goal of a $500 billion economy.

27/05/2026

02/05/2026

Ten Principles of a Free Society
Courtesy: Freedom Association

The Freedom Association's 'Ten Principles of a Free Society'
1. Individual Freedom
2. Personal and Family Responsibility
3. The Rule of Law
4. Limited Government
5.Free Market Economy
6. National Parliamentary Democracy
7.Strong National Defences
8. A free press and other media
9. Freedom of Religion and Belief
10. Freedom of Speech, Expression and Assembly

04/04/2026

Happy Easter to all of us.

19/02/2026

The Minister in Charge of Kampala City and the Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority - KCCA declared today 19/Feb/2026, 8pm as the last day for all street vendors to stop doing business on the streets of Kampala. It should be noted, it is not very clear where these thousands of street vendors will be relocated.
As Gateway Research Centre,Kampala we urge the KCCA leadership to act with humanity and organise dialogue with street vendors before these evictions.
In a period when the rate of unemployment in the country is high, forcing vendors off the streets may not only worsen the standard of living for the victims, but also culminate into increased crime rates especially robbery and theft in search for a living.

In 2021, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) re-enforced its decision to decongest the city. One of the key strategies was to do away with street vendors and hawkers within Kampala. Law enforcement officers for KCCA resorted to arrests, impounding of vendors’ merchandise, and other sorts of enforcement procedures majority of which were ‘hard measures’. The then KCCA Executive Director Ms. Dorothy Kisaka had instructed all street vendors to start operating from zoned locations mainly including major markets gazetted by the city authorities such as St. Balikuddembe (Owino), Nakasero market, Wandegeya Market, Nateete, Busega. From a survey conducted by Gateway Research Centre (2022), 85% of the traders lamented about the reduction in daily income arising from working in the zoned markets compared to street vending. The average daily income from streets was fifty thousand shillings (UGX 50,000) which is approximately USD 13.5 per day compared to only seven thousand shillings (UGX 7,000) which is less than USD 2 per day earned by working in a zoned market. This implies the average daily income earned per vendor in a zoned market is below that of street vendors by 86%.
The policy brief in the link below provides potential practical recommendations to address the challenges of street vendors in Uganda. https://www.gatewayresearchcentre.org/policy-briefs/street-vendors-in-kampala-city-uganda-a-question-of-urban-economic-policy-reforms