Uganda Holds Key Interest Rate to Help Shield Economy

(Bloomberg) --

Uganda’s central bank held its benchmark rate at 9% saying subdued inflation provides room to shield the economy from global headwinds and increasing domestic needs for private-sector financing.

The monetary policy stance remains accommodative and supportive, Governor Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile told reporters in the capital, Kampala.

Key Insights

• The central bank cut the key rate for the first time in more than a year in October to help boost the $34.2 billion East African economy. While the rate of expansion slowed to 5.4% in the second quarter from 5.6% in the first three months of 2019, the MPC still sees growth between 5.5% and 6% this year, the governor said.
• The headline inflation rate rose to 3% in November, after hitting a 16-month low of 1.9% in September. While consumer prices are climbing, the central bank sees core inflation remaining below the 5% target through the fourth quarter of 2020.
• In the first 10 months of the year, tourism receipts grew at a lower rate and exports, excluding gold and other minerals, contracted due to moderating external demand, Tumusiime-Mutebile said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Fred Ojambo in Kampala at fojambo@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: David Malingha at dmalingha@bloomberg.net, Helen Nyambura, Rene Vollgraaff

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