Money in Uganda today
The Bank of Uganda's interest rate, the latest inflation figure and what the Uganda shilling is worth today, with what they mean for your savings and loans.
Central Bank Rate decided 14 October 2026 (emergency meeting). Inflation from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
What is happening
The Bank of Uganda raised its rate by 2.25 points at an emergency meeting on 14 October 2026 to defend the shilling, which had weakened sharply as global energy prices rose. Core inflation was 4.4% in October, still below the bank's 5% target, but food-crop inflation jumped to 10.7%.
What it means for you
- Savers: interest rates are above inflation, so savings accounts, money market funds and government bills that pay close to the central bank rate can grow faster than prices. Compare what you earn after tax with the 5.8% inflation rate.
- Borrowers: bank lending rates and variable-rate loans follow the central bank. After the latest rise, expect loan rates to go up.
- Prices: inflation of 5.8% means something that cost 1,000 a year ago costs about 1,058 now.
Tools and guides for Uganda
Mobile money in Uganda: saving, borrowing and staying safe
Mobile money is how most Ugandans send and receive money. How to use its savings and loan products well, cut costs and avoid common scams.
Unit trusts in Uganda: how they work and how to choose one
Unit trusts let you invest small amounts in a professionally managed pool. How Ugandan funds work, the main types and what to compare before you invest.
Buying land in Uganda safely: titles, searches and tenure
Land is the biggest purchase most Ugandans make, and fraud is common. The four tenure systems, the checks to make and how the transfer works.
How to build an emergency fund in Uganda
An emergency fund stops a hospital bill or a lost job from turning into debt. How much to save, where to keep it, and how to build it on a Ugandan income.
How to buy shares on the Uganda Securities Exchange
Buying shares lets you own part of listed companies and share in their profits. Here is how investing on the Uganda Securities Exchange works, step by step.
How SACCOs work in Uganda, and how to choose a safe one
Savings and credit cooperatives let members pool money and borrow from each other. Here is how they work in Uganda and how to tell a well-run SACCO from a risky one.
Sources
- Nairametrics: Bank of Uganda raises rate to 12%
- Rio Times: Uganda inflation October 2026 (UBOS data)
- Bank of Uganda
Exchange rates update automatically through the day. Interest rates and inflation are updated after each central bank decision and monthly release.