Kenya

Record Customs Revenue In January Over New Alcohol, Sugar Tax Formula

Higher taxes on imported alcohol and sugar pushed customs revenue to a record Sh82.55 billion in January, with the Kenya Revenue Authority recording a 121.1% performance rate. The sharp rise followed changes under the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, which took effect in late December 2024, replacing the flat excise duty per litre on alcohol with a formula based on alcohol content. Stronger drinks now attract higher taxes, especially imports from the UK and the EU. Sugar imports were also hit, with the duty rising from Sh5 to Sh7.50 per kilogramme. These adjustments drove strong revenue growth in the second half of the year, with Customs collecting Sh879.3 billion by June—an 11.1% increase from the previous year, far outpacing 2023/24’s 4.9% growth. The performance comes as the government faces pressure to boost domestic revenue amid limited access to concessional loans and rising debt obligations.

(Source: Business Daily)

Uganda

Old Mutual Investment Group Celebrates Impressive Growth and Unit Holder Participation

Old Mutual Investment Group Uganda marked a successful 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM), with strong growth and record participation, as confirmed at the Sheraton on July 17. The country’s economy recorded 6.06% GDP growth in 2023/24, fuelling a rise in asset values to USh 2.407 trillion (approximately USD 656 million). Unit holders increased by 67%, from 30,165 to 50,416, with over 20,000 new investors joining in just one year. All funds outperformed their benchmarks, with returns ranging from 11.28% (Money Market) to 12.64% (balanced). The Dollar Fund tripled in value to USD 39.2 million, yielding a 5.03% return. A clean audit under IFRS and robust governance were highlighted, alongside strategic portfolio shifts toward long-term bonds amid rising interest rates. The AGM closed with optimistic yet cautious projections for Uganda’s 6.3% GDP growth in 2025, striking a balance between opportunity and global and domestic risks.

(Source: The Independent)

Tanzania

Mwanza Targets Bigger GDP Share

The Mwanza Region aims to increase its GDP contribution from approximately 7.2 per cent to 10 per cent of Tanzania’s national economy, driven by significant investments exceeding TSh 5.6 trillion in infrastructure and services. Key projects include the Standard Gauge Railway linking Isaka to Mwanza, the Kigongo–Busisi Bridge, modern markets, bus and truck terminals, as well as expansions at the airport and ports. Designed to transform connectivity, trade, and regional business climate. Social investments are equally ambitious, encompassing improvements in health services, schools and classrooms, as well as water access and electricity, which now span virtually all mainland villages. Economic indicators are already moving as regional revenue grew 60 per cent between 2020/21 and 2024/25, fisheries exports have surged, and Mwanza’s economy has doubled in six years, all reinforcing the region’s rise as Tanzania’s second-largest economic hub and its bid to rival Dar es Salaam.

(Source: Daily News)

Rwanda

Rwanda Banking on Wood Tech to Cut 30% Production Wastage

Rwanda is adopting wood-processing technology to cut production waste by about 30 per cent, aiming to reduce expensive imports and boost local value addition. A recent audit by NIRDA found that most wood processors still use manual or semi-automated systems, noting that adopting modern tools and improved finishing techniques could save the country up to $300 million annually. In response, stakeholders, including government agencies, cooperatives, and NGOs, are collaborating through initiatives such as TREPA to strengthen the wood value chain, enhance product quality, support smallholder livelihoods, and create employment opportunities. A new high-tech processing facility in Karongi’s Rubengera sector is key to this strategy, providing locally made, affordable furniture while offering inclusive employment opportunities, especially for vulnerable communities.

(Source: The New Times)

Ethiopia

Ethiopian Airlines Launches New Flight Route to Abu Dhabi

Ethiopian Airlines launched a new route to Abu Dhabi on July 15, 2025, as part of its joint venture with Etihad Airways, thereby strengthening its connections between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The new flight, Addis Ababa’s third destination in the UAE after Dubai and Sharjah, underscores the carrier’s strategy to boost travel convenience, enhance trade, tourism, cultural exchange, and bilateral relations between Ethiopia and the UAE. The move is framed as a diplomatic and economic milestone, reinforcing Ethiopian Airlines’ role as a bridge for regional and international integration.

(Source: ENA)

Somalia

Somalia, Uganda Agree on Enhancing Cooperation on Security, Trade and Development

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited Uganda and met with President Yoweri Museveni, where they publicly reaffirmed a strengthened strategic partnership encompassing security, trade, and development. Uganda reaffirmed support for Somalia’s national forces and the newly launched AUSSOM peace mission. They committed to boosting bilateral investment and expanding trade cooperation, underscoring Somalia’s membership in the East African Community and its forthcoming seat on the UN Security Council for the 2025–26 term. A key highlight was the recognition of the lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia, seen as pivotal to enabling Somalia to assume full responsibility for its national security. Both leaders framed these steps as critical to deepening regional integration and stability in the Horn of Africa.

(Source: Somali National News Agency)

Sudan

Sudan Gold Production Jumps To 64 Tonnes Despite Ongoing Conflict

Sudan’s gold sector has emerged as a critical economic lifeline amid the country’s ongoing conflict. On July 17, 2025, the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC) announced that gold production had reached 64 tonnes in 2024, representing a 53% increase from 2022, and resulting in $1.57 billion in legal export revenues. SMRC projects 37 tonnes in the first half of 2025 alone, generating over 400 billion Sudanese pounds. Director Mohamed Tahir Omer, speaking in Cairo, stated that the mining sector is poised to drive national recovery, with workforce capacity increasing from 5% to 40%. Yet, smuggling continues to drain state revenues, with nearly half of all production slipping across borders, much of it from RSF-controlled mines along South Sudan and CAR frontiers. Analysts estimate that Sudan’s real annual output could top 80 tonnes, worth over $6 billion, much of which fuels both sides of the conflict. The gap between declared revenues and actual production highlights the state’s weak control over its mineral wealth amid economic collapse and humanitarian disaster.

(Source: The Sudan Tribune)