COMMERCE AND TRADE

Many Ugandans engage in commerce and trade. There are several big multinational companies operating in the country, especially in the petroleum industry. Other big companies are engaged in import and export and Telecommunications.

Apart from the big companies and corporations there is a large number of local businessmen who import goods from countries like Japan, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, South Africa, Europe and elsewhere. These make up the middleclass in Uganda. They hold a lot of money in stocks and provide valuable casual and permanent employment to a great many people.

A lot of undocumented cross-border trade and exchange of goods and services goes on between Uganda and all its neighbours. This too provides those living near the borders with valuable income through trade and employment.

There are many people who are involved in selling goods in local markets. These range from small roadside markets to very large markets in the urban centres like Kampala, Jinja, Masaka, Mbarara, Malaba and Arua.

Many families survive on very small incomes generated from small roadside open-air stalls mostly operated by women. These stalls or kiosks sell almost everything any ordinary citizen would need to survive; from needles to hot meals, telephone credit top up cards to cutlery and items of clothing.