The rate cut is a continuation of the Bank of Uganda's (BOU) easing campaign that began in April 2016 as it slowly unwinds 600 points of rate hikes in 2015.
It is BOU's first rate cut this year after cuts totaling 250 basis points in 2017 - most recently in October 2017 - and by 500 points in 2016. Since April 2016 the CBR rate has been lowered by a total of 800 points.
Uganda's headline inflation rate declined to 3.0 percent in January from 3.3 percent in December and while the near-term forecast is similar to that from December, the BOU said the 12-month forecast had been lowered by around 1 percentage point, mainly due to lower food prices.
Core inflation eased to 2.6 percent in January from 3.0 percent in December.
By the second half of 2019, headline and core inflation is now seen converging to 5 percent as the economy strengthens though spare capacity will help dampen inflationary pressures. The BOU targets core inflation of 5.0 percent, plus/minus 2 percentage points.
Uganda's economy is projected to have grown between 5.0 and 6.0 percent in 2017, up from 2.5 percent in 2016, and the BOU forecasts growth in the 2017/18 financial year, which ends June 30, of 5.0-5.5 percent.
This growth forecast is slightly up from BOU's December forecast of 5.0 percent but similar to its forecast from October 2017 when it also forecast 5.0-5.5 percent.
The BOU noted signs of a revival of private investment activity as reflected by a recovery of foreign direct investment, improved shilling credit extension and an increase in the imports of raw materials and capital goods.
"Over the next five years, economic growth is projected to average 6.3 percent, boosted by public investments, increasing growth in consumption and improved agricultural productivity," BOU said.
After falling sharply in 2014 and 2015, Uganda's shilling depreciated further in 2016 and 2017 but at a slower pace.
Today the shilling was trading at 3,632 to the U.S. dollar, largely unchanged from 3,634 at the start of 2018.
The Bank of Uganda released the following statement:
"The inflation data released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) indicates
that inflation remains subdued. Annual headline and core inflation declined to 3.0
percent and 2.6 percent in January 2018 from 3.3 percent and 3.0 percent,
respectively in December 2017. The decline in inflation is partly attributable to
low food prices, as annual food inflation declined to 2.7 percent in January 2018
from 3.5 percent in December 2017. For Electricity, Fuels and Utilities (EFU) the
annual inflation rate also declined to 9.8 percent from 12.5 percent in December
2017.
The pace of economic activity strengthened in 2017. Indeed, the high frequency indicator of real economic activity, Bank of Uganda’s Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA), projects economic growth for 2017 to be in the range of 5.0-6.0 percent compared to 2.5 percent in 2016. In addition, there are indications of a revival in private investment activity; as reflected by the recovery of Foreign Direct Investment, which grew by 18.5 percent in 2017 compared to a decline of 30.5 percent in 2016; improving shilling credit extension by 10.8 percent in December 2017 compared to 7.9 percent in December 2016; and an increase of imports of raw materials and capital goods, which grew by 17.4 percent in 2017 compared to a decline of 21.1 percent in 2016. These developments, coupled with an improving global economic outlook, could strengthen domestic economic activity. Economic growth for Financial Year 2017/18 is now projected in the range of 5.0-5.5 percent, a positive payoff for the current stimulatory monetary policy.
Over the next five years, economic growth is projected to average 6.3 percent, boosted by public investments, increasing growth in consumption, and improved agricultural productivity. There are nonetheless downside risks to this outlook. The growth of private sector credit remains below historic levels and the cost of credit remains relatively high for micro and small loans while the cost to corporates have declined.
Given the objective of keeping inflation close to the target and the estimated
spare capacity in the economy, a cautious easing of monetary policy is warranted
to further boost private sector credit growth and to strengthen the economic
growth momentum. The BoU will therefore reduce the Central Bank Rate (CBR)
by 50 basis points to 9.0 percent. The band on the CBR will be maintained at +/-3
percentage points and the margin on the rediscount rate at 4 percentage points
on the CBR. Consequently, the rediscount rate and the bank rate have been
reduced to 13.0 percent and 14.0 percent, respectively."
www.CentralBankNews.info
The pace of economic activity strengthened in 2017. Indeed, the high frequency indicator of real economic activity, Bank of Uganda’s Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA), projects economic growth for 2017 to be in the range of 5.0-6.0 percent compared to 2.5 percent in 2016. In addition, there are indications of a revival in private investment activity; as reflected by the recovery of Foreign Direct Investment, which grew by 18.5 percent in 2017 compared to a decline of 30.5 percent in 2016; improving shilling credit extension by 10.8 percent in December 2017 compared to 7.9 percent in December 2016; and an increase of imports of raw materials and capital goods, which grew by 17.4 percent in 2017 compared to a decline of 21.1 percent in 2016. These developments, coupled with an improving global economic outlook, could strengthen domestic economic activity. Economic growth for Financial Year 2017/18 is now projected in the range of 5.0-5.5 percent, a positive payoff for the current stimulatory monetary policy.
Over the next five years, economic growth is projected to average 6.3 percent, boosted by public investments, increasing growth in consumption, and improved agricultural productivity. There are nonetheless downside risks to this outlook. The growth of private sector credit remains below historic levels and the cost of credit remains relatively high for micro and small loans while the cost to corporates have declined.
However, non-performing loans as a percentage of gross loans have declined
from a peak of 10.5 percent in December 2016 to 5.6 percent in December 2017,
which should support credit extension. In addition, although public investment programs could substantially raise output and be self-financing in the long run, transitional challenges of funding these investments can be formidable, and may crowd out private sector borrowing, thus delaying the growth benefits of public investment.
The near-term inflation forecasts are similar to those of the MPC meeting in December 2017. However, forecasts for the 12-months horizon are lower by about 1 percentage point, in large part due to lower food inflation. Inflation is forecast to increase gradually, as the economy strengthens with both the headline and core inflation converging to 5 percent by the second half of 2019. There are nonetheless, upside risks to this outlook, including the path of the exchange rate which in part is contingent on external economic environment, the future direction of food crops prices and the evolution of international crude oil prices. The Bank of Uganda (BoU) estimates that there is still spare capacity in the economy that will dampen inflationary pressures.
The near-term inflation forecasts are similar to those of the MPC meeting in December 2017. However, forecasts for the 12-months horizon are lower by about 1 percentage point, in large part due to lower food inflation. Inflation is forecast to increase gradually, as the economy strengthens with both the headline and core inflation converging to 5 percent by the second half of 2019. There are nonetheless, upside risks to this outlook, including the path of the exchange rate which in part is contingent on external economic environment, the future direction of food crops prices and the evolution of international crude oil prices. The Bank of Uganda (BoU) estimates that there is still spare capacity in the economy that will dampen inflationary pressures.
www.CentralBankNews.info
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