A photo montage of cocoa and coffee beans. Coffee remains Uganda’s leading cash crop and top foreign exchange earner
Foreign exchange earnings remain crucial to the stability and growth of Uganda’s economy.
According to the Bank of Uganda, the country earned Ugx 5.08 trillion (US$1.401 billion) from exports in April 2026, down from Ugx 5.20 trillion (US$1.435 billion) in March. Despite the month-on-month decline, the economy remains resilient, supported by a strong Uganda Shilling.
Gold remains Uganda’s largest foreign exchange earner. In April, gold exports generated Ugx 3.14 trillion (US$866.10 million), up from Ugx 3.09 trillion (US$851.35 million) in March.
Excluding gold, Uganda’s leading foreign exchange earners are dominated by agricultural commodities, with coffee retaining its position as the country’s leading cash crop.
In April, coffee exports earned Uganda Ugx 546.44 billion (US$150.81 million) from 590,800 60-kilogramme bags, down from Ugx 628.15 billion (US$173.37 million) generated from 671,152 bags exported in March.
Coffee was followed by cocoa beans, which earned Ugx 81.95 billion (US$22.62 million) in April, compared to Ugx 116.15 billion (US$32.05 million) in March. Uganda exported 6,775 tonnes of cocoa beans in April, down from 8,299 tonnes in March.
Flowers ranked third, earning the country Ugx 52.13 billion (US$14.39 million) in April, compared to Ugx 97.88 billion (US$27.02 million) in March. Uganda exported 490 tonnes of flowers in April, down slightly from 500 tonnes in March.
Fruits and vegetables also remained among Uganda’s top agricultural export earners, generating Ugx 31.38 billion (US$8.66 million) in April, compared to Ugx 28.77 billion (US$7.94 million) in March. Export volumes stood at 18,531 tonnes in April, compared to 21,770 tonnes in March.
Maize, which is widely grown across the country, earned Ugx 25.54 billion (US$7.05 million) in April, slightly lower than Ugx 26.45 billion (US$7.30 million) recorded in March. Uganda exported 19,407 tonnes of maize during the month.
Maize was followed by tobacco and tea. Tobacco exports generated Ugx 14.06 billion (US$3.88 million) in April, compared to Ugx 14.82 billion (US$4.09 million) in March, despite export volumes increasing to 1,680 tonnes from 1,050 tonnes.
Tea earned Ugx 13.99 billion (US$3.86 million) in April, down from Ugx 15.76 billion (US$4.35 million) in March. Uganda exported 4,419 tonnes of tea in April, compared to 4,723 tonnes in March.
Cotton, traditionally one of Uganda’s leading cash crops, generated Ugx 10.83 billion (US$2.99 million) in export earnings in April, up from Ugx 8.88 billion (US$2.45 million) in March. Export volumes increased to 11,782 bales (185-kilogramme bales) from 9,776 bales.
Beans followed, earning Ugx 9.67 billion (US$2.67 million) in April, down from Ugx 15.90 billion (US$4.39 million) in March. Uganda exported 4,438 tonnes of beans in April compared to 6,480 tonnes in March.
Vanilla, whose prices have declined significantly, generated Ugx 5.83 billion (US$1.61 million) in April, up from Ugx 4.78 billion (US$1.32 million) in March. Export volumes rose to 41,191 kilogrammes from 31,488 kilogrammes.
Simsim rounded out the top 10 agricultural export earners, generating Ugx 5.47 billion (US$1.51 million) in April, compared to Ugx 5.29 billion (US$1.46 million) in March.
