Uganda's central bank held its key lending rate at 10.0% on Monday, saying it expected inflation would slow to hit its target by the end of the year despite a pick-up in January that it thought would be short-lived.
The decision, announced by deputy governor Michael
Atingi-Ego at a news conference, was the second time in a row
the bank has kept its policy rate unchanged.
Last year it raised rates by 350 basis points to fight inflation.
Inflation was 10.4% year-on-year in January from 10.2% a month earlier, but Atingi-Ego said core inflation was expected to decline to the 5% target by the end of 2023.
Risks to the inflation outlook include the potential impact of international financial conditions on the Ugandan shilling exchange rate, and higher food and energy prices, he added.
"The current CBR (Central Bank Rate) would contain
domestic demand pressures, while accommodating and supporting
economic recovery," Atingi-Ego said.
(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema
Writing by George Obulutsa
Editing by Alexander Winning and Andrew Heavens)
