Trading from Uganda: what is different
Gold has become one of Uganda's leading exports by value in recent years, much of it refined in and traded through Kampala. XAU/USD is the dollar price behind it.
Uganda is on East Africa Time (UTC+3) all year: London opens at 11:00 from November to March and at 10:00 from April to October.
Most Ugandan traders reach the market from a phone. The platform runs in the browser — no download — and can be added to your home screen.
Forex market hours in Uganda
The forex market is open 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, passing from Asia to Europe to North America. These are the main sessions converted to local time in Uganda.
| Session | Local time, Nov–Mar | Local time, Apr–Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo session | 03:00–12:00 | 03:00–12:00 |
| London session | 11:00–20:00 | 10:00–19:00 |
| New York session | 16:00–01:00 | 15:00–00:00 |
| London–New York overlap | 16:00–20:00 | 15:00–19:00 |
| Weekly open | Monday 01:00 | Monday 00:00 |
| Weekly close | Saturday 01:00 | Saturday 00:00 |
The busiest hours for the major pairs and gold are usually the London–New York overlap. Spreads tend to be widest around the daily rollover and in the first hour after the weekly open.
Markets to watch from Uganda
- XAU/USD (gold) — among Uganda's largest exports.
- EUR/USD and GBP/USD — from 11:00 Kampala time in winter.
- Bitcoin (BTCUSD) and Ether (ETHUSD) CFDs.
- Brent crude (UKOIL) — Uganda is developing its own oil fields around Lake Albert.
Accounts and funding
| Account | Minimum deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Cent | $10 (balance in USC) | From 1.4 pips | None |
| Standard | $100 | From 1.0 pips | None |
| Pro | $1,000 | From 0.6 pips | None |
| Raw ECN | $5,000 | From 0.0 pips | $7 per lot |
Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT on BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) or Tron (TRC20). There is no Ugandan shilling conversion inside your account; any conversion happens wherever you buy or sell USDT. Identity verification is completed once, before your first withdrawal.
Regulation and your responsibility
AlphaFX Pro is an international broker and is not licensed by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA Uganda). Our registration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in progress. We do not provide investment advice or a local office in Uganda.
Before opening an account, make sure the law in Uganda allows you to trade CFDs with a broker based outside the country, and check any rules on moving money abroad. If you are not sure, ask us before you deposit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I trade the Ugandan shilling?
No UGX pairs are offered. Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT.
Do I need to download anything?
No. The terminal runs in your browser on Android, iPhone or desktop, and can be installed like an app.
What is the minimum deposit from Uganda?
The Standard Cent account opens from $10, funded in USDT, with the balance held in US cents ($10 = 1,000 USC). Standard opens from $100, Pro from $1,000 and Raw ECN from $5,000.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This page is general information, not investment advice. Read the Risk Disclosure.