Uganda's annual inflation accelerated to 5.8 per cent in October 2026, up from 4.6 per cent in September, according to the Consumer Price Index report released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). The increase was driven by rising food prices, higher fuel costs and currency depreciation, affecting household incomes and business operating expenses across the economy.
Food inflation posted the sharpest jump, reaching 10.7 per cent in October compared with 4.5 per cent in September. UBOS data showed pineapple prices climbed 25.5 per cent annually after declining 6.4 per cent the previous month, while tomato prices rose 3.9 per cent after a 13.8 per cent drop in September. Matoke prices bucked the trend, declining 0.9 per cent. Essential staples also saw significant increases: cassava flour prices jumped to 37 per cent from 33 per cent, beef prices rose to 9.2 per cent from 8.4 per cent, rice inflation increased to 8.2 per cent from 6.1 per cent, and maize flour accelerated to 6.2 per cent from 1.1 per cent.
Energy, fuel and utilities inflation climbed to 15.4 per cent in October from 14.5 per cent in September, with diesel prices recording a particularly sharp annual increase of 49.2 per cent. Samuel Echoku, UBOS Head of Macroeconomic Statistics, attributed the inflation surge to currency depreciation and higher fuel prices. He explained that shilling depreciation increases the cost of imported products including fuel, industrial raw materials and machinery, which businesses then pass on to consumers through higher prices. Echoku said the developments require government interventions to strengthen the economy and address growing cost pressures.
The latest figures point to mounting cost-of-living pressures, particularly for households spending a significant share of their income on food, transport and other essential services. Prices are rising across food crops, energy, fuel, utilities and services, indicating growing price pressures across different sectors of the economy.