nformality in Uganda accounted for 55 percent of the country’s economy.  This 4 percent increase in informality partly explains the persistent low tax-to-GDP ratio registered over the years. Additionally, the share of informal employment in total employment increased from 90.7 percent in FY 2016/17 to 92 percent in FY2020/21 (NLFS, 2021).

This policy brief presents the key drivers of informality in Uganda among informal businesses, household activities,

This paper analyzes tax incentives in the mining sector in Africa, establishes their ineffectiveness in contributing to a more inclusive and transformative use of mineral resources, and highlights the need for rethinking them altogether.

This paper reaches the following conclusions:

This policy brief examines Africa’s progress in reducing poverty from a multidimensional perspective, using the 2024 update to the global multidimensional poverty index (MPI). Despite persistent negative perceptions, many African countries are among the fastest worldwide in reducing multidimensional poverty. The brief highlights the importance of using multiple metrics—absolute, relative, and population-based changes—to assess progress.

While the EU Regulations aim to promote environmental sustainability, they pose significant challenges for smallholder farmers, including increased compliance costs, risk of reduced market access, and insufficient support systems. The regulations require coffee to be grown on land free from deforestation.

The brief identifies market access opportunities for Uganda under the AfCFTA, assesses offers and Uganda’s capacities to supply products in the identified markets and estimates the jobs that are likely to be generated because of exploiting the expanded markets.

This policy brief examines the impact of public procurement on domestic firms in Uganda, conducting a survey of firms which have won procurement contracts to test different hypothesis for why firms fail to scale up production when they win a procurement contract.

This brief emphasizes the significance of trade facilitation reforms in the impact of the AfCFTA on Uganda’s export promotion agenda. Without these measures, exporters could suffer a decline in market share with the East African Community and liberalization could reduce border revenues by an estimated USD17 million yearly. It is therefore imperative to consider unilateral measures such as increasing investment in One-stop border posts and the electronic single window, to reduce trade costs.

The Scaling up Climate Ambition on Land Use and Agriculture through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) (SCALA) Programme recognises the unique role of the private sector in spurring innovation and investment for transformative climate action in the agriculture and land use sectors.

 Private Sector Sentiment remained optimistic in Q2 FY2024/25, as reflected in the Business Tendency Index (BTI), which stayed above the 50-mark threshold. The BTI increased from 58.4 in Q1 FY2024/25 to 59.0 in Q2 FY2024/25, signaling growing confidence in business conditions. Similarly, the Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA) rose by 1.3%, from 165.4 in Q1 to 167.5 in Q2 FY2024/25, driven by growth in coffee exports and higher private sector credit, which supported economic activities during the quarter.

 Private Sector Sentiment remained optimistic in Q2 FY2024/25, as reflected in the Business Tendency Index (BTI), which stayed above the 50-mark threshold. The BTI increased from 58.4 in Q1 FY2024/25 to 59.0 in Q2 FY2024/25, signaling growing confidence in business conditions. Similarly, the Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA) rose by 1.3%, from 165.4 in Q1 to 167.5 in Q2 FY2024/25, driven by growth in coffee exports and higher private sector credit, which supported economic activities during the quarter.