Uganda’s headline inflation edged up slightly to 3.2 percent in January 2026, from 3.1 percent recorded in December, reflecting a modest increase in overall price pressures, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
The rise means that, on average, prices in January 2026 were 3.2 percent higher than in the same month last year.
Presenting the figures, Principal Statistician Juliet Nakayenga said underlying or core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as food crops and energy, fuels and utilities, also increased to 3.3 percent from 3.1 percent.
The increase was largely driven by services inflation, which rose to 4.8 percent compared to 4.0 percent in December, while core goods inflation slowed to 2.1 percent from 2.5 percent, indicating a deceleration in price growth for manufactured and processed goods.
Within services, notable increases were recorded in passenger transport by air, which rose sharply to 8.8 percent from 1.2 percent, and refuse collection services, where prices were revised following changes in dumping sites.
By contrast, several core goods registered price declines on an annual basis, including sugar, laundry soap and smoked tilapia, pointing to easing pressures in some household essentials.
Food crops and related items slowed to 3.0 percent in January from 4.4 percent in December, supported by seasonal increases in supply. Prices of matoke declined by 4.5 percent year-on-year, while tomatoes recorded a deeper drop of 10.1 percent.
Energy, fuels and utilities inflation rose marginally to 1.7 percent from 1.4 percent, driven mainly by higher firewood prices, despite electricity prices remaining lower compared to a year earlier.
On a month-to-month basis, overall prices increased by 0.3 percent in January, down from a 0.5 percent rise in December.
Kampala high-income areas and Masaka registered the highest annual inflation at 4.0 percent, while Arua recorded the lowest at 1.3 percent, underscoring regional differences in price movements across the country.