Uganda’s month of April headline inflation rose slightly 3.0% for the 12 months ending April 2026, up from 2.8% recorded in March 2026.
According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics this increase was primarily driven by higher energy, fuel, and passenger transport costs, along with rising prices for services like restaurants.Annual EFU inflation saw a significant rise to 6.1% compared to 4.1% in March 2026.
UBOS officials have attributed the rise to increases in fuel, food, and transport costs.
Ugandss annual inflaton rate has been low and stable easing to 2.8% by March 2026, down from 2.9% in February and 3.2% in January.
The core inflation rate (excluding food and energy) remained relatively low, holding at 3.0% in February and March 2026, indicating economic stability with consumer prices rising at a slower pace.
petrol prices increased by 8.7%, diesel rose 10.8%, and passenger transport services saw a surge.Food crops and related items inflation contributed to the overall rise.
Services Inflation increased to 4.1%, compared to 4.0% in March 2026, mainly due to higher costs in passenger transport services and restaurants and cafés.
Core Goods Inflation remained at 2.0%, unchanged from March 2026. However, some items recorded notable movements, including fish and other seafood at 9.1%, live chicken at 4.0%, and cement at 0.7%.
The report further indiscates that Annual Food Crops and Related Items Inflation slowed to 0.6%, down from 1.0% in March 2026.
This was influenced by falling or slower price increases in key items such as tomatoes at -18.7%, Irish potatoes at 6.7%, sweet potatoes at -1.3%, and cabbage at 17.9%.
Across different geographical areas, Masaka registered the highest inflation at 4.1%, followed by Kampala High Income at 3.8%.
Masaka’s increase was driven mainly by food and non-alcoholic beverages at 1.8% and transport at 5.0%.
Kampala High Income inflation was supported by transport inflation at 4.5% and food inflation at 5.3%.
Mbale Centre recorded the lowest inflation at 1.0%, mainly due to negative food inflation at -0.3% and a drop in restaurant and accommodation services at -1.1%.
Meanwhile monthly Headline Inflation increased to 0.6% in April 2026, up from 0.1% in March 2026.
This was driven by a rise in core inflation to 0.5% from 0.0%, and higher prices in both goods and services.
Energy, Fuel and Utilities monthly inflation rose by 1.8%, up from 1.0%, mainly due to higher fuel prices. Petrol increased by 4.2%, while diesel rose by 8.2%.
Food crops and related items also increased by 0.9%, compared to 0.3% in March 2026, driven by price increases in beans, matooke, cassava, onions and sweet potatoes.
UBOS noted that the overall increase in inflation was mainly influenced by rising fuel and transport costs, despite relatively stable food prices in some categories.
