According to data from Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Ugandans have increased spending on vegetable imports in 2022, rising to Shs69.03 billion. The spending, up by Shs20 billion, was higher than the Shs49 bln the country spent on vegetable imports in 2019.
Imports worth Shs7.19 trillion were sourced from China, while UAE, India and Kenya contributed Shs5.43 trillion, Shs4.28 trillion, and Shs2.73 trillion, respectively. Kenya is Uganda's largest source of imports in East Africa. It is followed by Tanzania, which during 2022 contributed about Shs1.01 trillion.
In 2022, vegetables were among thousands of items imported into Uganda with frozen and dried leguminous vegetables standing out. Frozen vegetables worth Shs48.96b were imported in 2022, while Shs10.28b was spent on shelled dried leguminous vegetables.
A 2019 Ministry of Finance report showed that Uganda largely imports edible vegetables such as potatoes, fresh chilled tomatoes, fresh or chilled onions, shallots, garlic, leeks and cabbages. Others are cauliflowers, kohlrabi, kale, lettuce, chicory, cucumbers, carrots, salad beetroot and turnips.
[ Shs100 = €0.03 ]
Source: monitor.co.ug
