By KT Reporter
The United Kingdom has called on Ugandan exporters to seize the opportunity of its Developing Countries Trading scheme (DCTS), which allows for tariff-free access for up to 95 percent of Ugandan goods entering the UK markets.
The British High Commissioner to Uganda, Lisa Chesney, said the scheme presents a huge opportunity for Uganda to expand its exports, particularly in the agricultural sector, to the UK.
“The UK sees openness as central to our international strategy. So, other countries may raise tariffs, but you will rely on the UK to keep the tariffs with Uganda down to next to nothing. And this is why we’ve collaborated with Uganda Airlines on the direct flight that opens an air route to bring fresh Uganda produce to the UK,” Said Chesney.
The British envoy was speaking during the first-ever UK-Uganda Agro-Industrialisation Forum held in Kampala City on Wednesday. Her statement comes amidst growing global trade uncertainty, with the US President Donald Trump recently announcing higher tariffs on selected imports from Uganda.
Chesney, however, highlighted concerns over Uganda’s low penetration in the UK coffee market, noting that the country currently accounts for just one percent of the £1 billion market.
“And I would say Uganda has just 1 percent of the £1 billion UK coffee market, to put that into context. So I’m sure we can grow that, and I’m helping out personally,” she said.
The Agro-industrialisation forum brought together Ugandan officials in the Ministry of Trade and the Agriculture Ministry, trade experts, agribusiness players, exporters and UK partners to explore the strategies of boosting agro-industrialisation between the two countries.
According to Chesney, the UK is already investing heavily in Uganda’s agricultural sector, citing examples such as Nexus Green, which has rolled out hundreds of solar-powered irrigation systems across the country to support climate-smart agriculture through financing from the UK government.
The envoy, however, underscored the need for the government to update its national trade policy to align with the African Continental Trade Free Area (AfCFTA) and called for joint efforts for the removal of trade barriers.
Data from the British High Commission shows that the current UK-Uganda trade stands at 578 million pounds, about 2.7 trillion shillings.
Coffee exports have increased from less than 2 million pounds in 2024 to 3 million pounds by July 2025.
Maj Gen David Kasura, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, noted that while agriculture remains the backbone of the country, commercialisation of agriculture faces significant challenges, including consistency of volume and quality.
He cited that some of the products exported are seasonal, such as mangoes a, adding that once such exporters get contracts, they fail to make further supplies because of the seasonal nature of the agricultural products.
Gen Kasura, however said has outlined key priorities under the Agro-industrial strategies, which include, among others, full transformation from subsistence to commercial, development of commodity value chains, and development of export infrastructure to meet international standards.
He stressed the need for urgency in scaling up production and exports to strengthen Uganda’s economic position globally.
“We are working on the key pillars, which are commodity value chain development, prioritising a key commodity, including coffee, tea, maize, rice, beans, cassava, dairy, beef, fish, cocoa, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables, among others. What we have done is we have done a dedicated value chain study and plan, linking farmers, processors, markets, and exports,” He said.
The government, according to Gen Kasura, however, targets to increase agriculture exports from the current 4.5 billion U.S. dollars to 15 billion US dollars by 2040.
The State Minister for Trade, Industry, and Cooperative Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi however, noted that Uganda’s agricultural sector has a huge growth potential, and currently accounts for 40 percent of merchandise exports.
Gen Mbadi said the government has put emphasis on agro-industrialisation, aiming to increase commercialisation and competitiveness of agricultural production and agro-processing.
“The programme seeks to prepare Uganda to reduce its negative trade balances by adding value to agricultural raw materials, promoting export expansion of high-value products, and import substitution,” He said.
Uganda’s exports to the UK, according to the International Trade Centre, in 2024 stood at US$28 million with the major exports being coffee, tea, spices, fruits, vegetables, flowers, among others.
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