Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) developed processes for operations, assessment and enforcement of standards to improve product quality. Uganda has 3,600 compulsory and voluntary standards that are prone to updating or withdrawal when new product developments arise. UNBS currently enforces three standards namely: National (Uganda Standards [US]); Regional (harmonized EAC standards [EAS]); and International Standards [ISO]).

This brief underscores the need to support export diversification in order to reduce Uganda’s trade deficit, address distortions in trade attributed to COVID-19 pandemic and other shocks such as climate change and geopolitical related issues, and to sustain economic growth and development. The brief indicates that light manufacturing and agricultural sectors have a high potential for export diversification, relative to other sectors. Additionally, Uganda’s potential export markets have been identified as Africa, Europe and Asia.

This brief focuses on understanding the implementation of water safety management strategies; studying the effects of change in operational strategies; and challenges of implementing usage practices from an urban to semi-urban setting in a small town. In Uganda’s scenario, the key findings of the study included the importance of sustaining risk management strategies, detection of fecal matter in water distribution, and deterioration of water quality upon storage in households.

The National Environment Act N0.5, 2019 necessitates any project that anticipates to have any substantial environmental impact to undertake an Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). The purpose of ESIA is to assess and predict adverse social and environmental impacts and to develop suitable mitigation measures, which are documented in an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP).

By July 2022, the domestic price for diesel and petrol in Uganda had increased by 71.5 percent and 56.1 percent respectively compared to July 2021. A time when the economy was still struggling to rebound from the devastating effects of COVID-19.

The global energy crisis directly affects local fuel prices and therefore the economy. However, domestic policy actions can influence tax-related costs, distribution, and profit margin but not the international crude oil price. As a result, the Government of Uganda did not intervene to curb the escalating prices.

Involvement of various MDAs is critical in the Development of Uganda’s livestock sector is pertinent in attaining objectives of the third National Development Plan through the Agro-Industrilization Programme. These MDAs play critical roles such as (i) regulating the activities of members, (ii) promoting production, processing, marketing and consumption of livestock products and (iii) offering financial and advisory services to members, among others.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has worsened the food security crisis in many African countries. Many countries in East, West, Middle, and Southern Africa rely on Russia and Ukraine for a significant percentage of their wheat, fertilizer, or vegetable oils imports, but the war disrupts global commodity markets and trade flows to Africa, increasing already high food prices in the region. Even countries that import little from the two countries are indirectly impacted by higher world prices for key commodities.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a health and human crisis threatening the food security and nutrition of millions of people around the world. Hundreds of millions of people were already suffering from hunger and malnutrition before the virus hit and, unless immediate action is taken, we could see a global food emergency. In the longer term, the combined effects of COVID-19 itself, as well as corresponding mitigation measures and the emerging global recession could, without large-scale coordinated action, disrupt the functioning of food systems.

AfCFTA is one of the flagship projects of the first ten-year implementation plan (2014-2023) under the AU’s Agenda 2063. It emphasises the reduction of tariffs and non-tariff barriers, and the facilitation of free movement of people and labour, right of residence, right of establishment and investment. If implemented fully, this agreement will become the largest trade agreement in the world with potential to create a continental free-trade zone with a combined GDP of USD $3.4 trillion.

Financial instability is not good news for any business, even if they are not trading overseas, but small businesses feel the impact of currency instability most noticeably. Compared to larger businesses, small businesses often lack the back-up finances to enable them to manage through periods of decline.

This brief illustrates how currency fluctuations affect SMEs’ investment decisions and access to credit. This relationship is stronger especially with SMEs in the manufacturing sector that mainly use imported inputs.