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Doing business & staying in touch

A suit and tie are best worn by men for business meetings. English is used for all business discussions. Appointments should always be made.

Office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0800-1230/1300 and 1400-1630/1700.

Economy: 

Agriculture dominates the Ugandan economy, accounting for half of total output and employing over 80% of the workforce. The industrial sector produces textiles, cement, fertilisers and metal goods. There are large deposits of copper and cobalt. In addition, there are known deposits of tin, tungsten, beryllium and tantalum ores.

The economy recorded fairly steady economic growth throughout most of the last decade (6% annual growth in 2007) and, in contrast with much of the rest of Africa, has enjoyed a series of good harvests. Inflation was at 5.8% in 2007.

The most pressing problem has been the country's debt burden. Its total external debt now stands at just under US$4 billion. In exchange for debt cancellation programmes, the government has been obliged to introduce a series of economic reforms, principally the removal of price controls and trade restrictions and a reduction in government spending.

Uganda is a member of the African Development Bank and of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). In 2003, Uganda joined with neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania in a plan to revive the East African Customs Union (a previous attempt folded in 1977).
The Uganda International Conference Centre with its main auditorium and three committee rooms has seating for up to 2,000. It is adjacent to the 4-star Nile Hotel and is 3km (2 miles) from the centre of Kampala. The Speke Resort & Country Lodge Munyayo, with 10 state-of-the-art conference rooms with modern facilities, has a capacity of over 3,000 people. For further information, contact the Uganda Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses).

GDP: 

US$9.3 billion (2007).

Main exports: 

Coffee, fish and fish products, tea, tobacco and cotton.

Main imports: 

Capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies and cereals.

Main trading partners: 

Kenya, Belgium, UAE and the Netherlands.

Telephone: 

Service for local calls is unreliable. Phone shops are available in towns.

Mobile phone: 

Coverage extends to all major towns and international roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies.

Internet: 

There are Internet cafés in most large towns.

Post: 

Airmail to Europe can take from three days to several weeks.

Post office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0830-1230 and 1400-1730. Some post offices are open Sat 0830-1300.

Media: 

Uganda has been a pioneer of liberalisation in the African media. Private radio and television stations have thrived since the government loosened its control of the media in 1993. Radio is the most popular medium.

Press: 

• The English-language papers include private daily The Monitor and state-owned daily New Vision.
• Vernacular papers include state-owned Bukedde, Etop and Rupiny.

Television: 

• UBC TV is the public broadcaster.
• WBS and Nation TV are private channels.

Radio: 

• UBC Radio is a publicly run station that operates five stations in Uganda. It can be heard across the country in English and vernacular languages.
• Radio Simba, Capital Radio and KFM are private stations.

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