Hapag-Lloyd has launched a new office in Kampala, Uganda’s capital.
Uganda’s geographical location offers easy access to five neighbouring East and Central African countries.
With a population of over 50 million, the country has emerged as an appealing market on the African continent. Uganda’s economy is expanding, with GDP predicted to grow by 5.9 per cent in 2024.
As a landlocked country with no direct sea access, it relies on neighbouring ports to assist international commerce, including Mombasa in Kenya and Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania.
In 2023, the Port of Mombasa handled nearly 200,000 TEUs of exports, with Uganda accounting for 22 per cent of the tonnage, reflecting the country’s substantial significance in regional trade flows. The majority of freight between Uganda and the ports is transported by truck.
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Aside from exporting its own goods, Uganda’s prominence stems from its function as a business hub for packaging and consolidating a varied variety of commodities that travel around the area.
Key exports passing through Uganda include timber and dry hides from South Sudan, cocoa, minerals, and timber from the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as coffee from Rwanda.
These movements underscore Uganda’s expanding effect on East African exports, as well as its potential for cross-border trade facilitation.
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Lars Sorensen, Senior Managing Director Region Middle East at Hapag-Lloyd, said: “Uganda plays a vital role in the export landscape of Africa and continues to see economic growth. Opening our office in Kampala is part of our long-term strategy to establish an early presence in emerging markets with high potential.
“With Kampala as our new hub, we can strengthen our position in the African market, improve service delivery, and better meet the needs of our customers both in Uganda and in neighboring regions.”
The new Hapag-Lloyd office in Kampala will be led by Prashant Sindhwani and has five employees.
