This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from Uganda statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from Ugandan statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other Ugandan-specific metadata information.
| Goal |
Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development |
|---|---|
| Target |
Target 17.4: Assist developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability through coordinated policies aimed at fostering debt financing, debt relief and debt restructuring, as appropriate, and address the external debt of highly indebted poor countries to reduce debt distress. |
| Indicator |
17.4.1. Debt service as a proportion of exports of goods and services. |
| Metadata update |
November 2021 |
| Related indicators |
Not Applicable |
| Data reporter |
Bank of Uganda |
| Organisation |
Bank of Uganda |
| Contact person(s) |
Constance Kabibi |
| Contact organisation unit |
Statistics Department |
| Contact person function |
Head, Quality Assurance and Data Dissemination Section |
| Contact phone |
+256 312 392000 |
| Contact mail |
P.O. Box 7120 Kampala |
| Contact email |
statistics_dissemination@bou.or.ug |
| Definition and concepts |
Definition: Debt service as proportion of exports of goods and services is the percentage of debt service (principal and interest payments) to the exports of goods and services. Debt services covered in this indicator refer only to public and publicly guaranteed debt Concepts: Concepts of public and publicly guaranteed external debt data and “exports of goods and services” are in accordance with the sixth edition of the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6) methodology. Exports of goods and services comprise all transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world involving a change of ownership from residents to non-residents of general merchandise, net exports of goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and services. Public and publicly guaranteed debt service is the sum of principal repayments and interest actually paid in currency, on long-term obligations of public debtors and long-term private obligations guaranteed by a public entity. In this case, the debtor is the Government of Uganda. |
| Unit of measure |
Percent |
| Classifications |
Balance of Payments Manual 6th Edition (BPM6), 2013 External Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users (2013 EDS Guide) |
| Data sources |
Data on exports of goods and services is obtained from the Balance of Payments statistics compiled by the Statistics Department of Bank of Uganda. Formal exports are compiled through administrative data from the customs database of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and supplemented by administrative data from the export promotion associations that govern the production and marketing of different commodities. Informal trade statistics are collected through a survey called the Informal Cross Border Trade (ICBT) survey jointly conducted by the central bank and UBOS. Data on service exports is compiled through a survey called the Quarterly Enterprise Survey conducted by the central bank on private sector entities involved in the production of services. Data on debt service of PPG debt is obtained from the External Debt statistics compiled by the staff of Ministry of Finance. |
| Data collection method |
Public and publicly guaranteed debt is collected through administrative records from the External Debt Statistics database called DMFAS. Data on exports is collected through a survey and administrative records of the URA and export promotion bodies |
| Data collection calendar |
The debt service data is entered into the system on a daily basis and the reports for the month /quarter are printed out when needed. Generally, data for this indicator is compiled for a quarter. |
| Data release calendar |
The annual publication of new data for this indicator is planned for a quarter after the period to which it refers. i.e. next release at the end of March 2022 with data for October to December 2021 |
| Data providers |
Bank of Uganda and Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development; The PPG debt service numbers are compiled by the Ministry of Finance staff and staff in the Statistics Department of Bank of Uganda, both of whom maintain a database on debt statistics. Statistics on exports are obtained from the Balance of Payments statement, which is compiled by staff in the Statistics Department at the Central Bank. |
| Data compilers |
Bank of Uganda and Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development |
| Institutional mandate |
The Bank of Uganda (BOU) collects data on the Balance of Payments (BOP) under authorization from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. As empowered by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics Act, 1998, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) is responsible for collecting, compiling, analyzing, and disseminating national statistics. Section 21 of the Statistics Act 1998 states that, UBOS can delegate authority to institutions to compile and disseminate specified statistical data. In a memorandum of understanding signed between UBOS, the BOU, and the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), UBOS delegated to the BOU the responsibility to collect, compile, and disseminate monetary and external sector statistics. |
| Rationale |
The indicator reflects a government’s ability to meet external creditor claims on the public sector through export revenues. A fall (increase) in this ratio can result from increased (reduced) export earnings, a reduction (increase) in debt servicing costs, or a combination of both. A persistent deterioration of this ratio signals an inability to generate enough foreign exchange income to meet external creditor obligations on a country’s PPG debt, and thus potential debt distress in the absence of multilateral support or effective sovereign debt restructuring. |
| Comment and limitations |
None |
| Method of computation |
Public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) external debt data are compiled by the World Bank based on the World Bank Debtor Reporting System Manual, dated January 2000 which sets out the reporting procedures to be used by countries. The data are provided by the countries on a loan-by-loan basis. “Exports of goods and services” data are sourced from IMF’s Balance of Payments Statistics database and then gap-filled with World Bank staff estimates in accordance with the sixth edition of the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6) Debt service as proportion of exports of goods and services = Debt service (principal and interest payments) / Exports of goods and services*100 Both components are used to express the indicator in percentage terms. |
| Validation |
The debt validation exercise involves reconciliation of data between the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry to ensure the numbers are correct and all transactions are recorded. |
| Methods and guidance available to countries for the compilation of the data at the national level |
Balance of Payments Manual 6th Edition (BPM6), 2013 External Debt Statistics: Guide for Compilers and Users (2013 EDS Guide) |
| Quality management |
The ICBT Survey follows documented sampling, fieldwork and analysis procedures that allow for quality control. The processing and analysis follow statistical principles for analyzing data and uprating of data. Management of quality for exports data also involves reconciliation of data between the Central Bank and UBOS to ensure the data is correct. |
| Quality assurance |
The data undergoes validation checks before it is included in the BOP statistics and prior to dissemination of data conducted by the Quality Assurance Section in the Statistics Department. |
| Quality assessment |
Data on the exports and debt service is compared with other data on inflows to ensure that it is consistent with the behavior of other macroeconomic indicators. |
| Data availability and disaggregation |
Data on the indicator for Uganda is currently available from 2001 to date. |
| Comparability/deviation from international standards |
The indicator is compiled in accordance with international standards and is comparable with that from other countries. Uganda also compiles a version of this indicator that excludes payments to debt from the IMF. |
| References and Documentation |
https://data.imf.org/?sk=7A51304B-6426-40C0-83DD-CA473CA1FD52 References: https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/bop/2014/pdf/GuideFinal.pdf |
| Metadata last updated | Feb 12, 2026 |