Transports uridine diphosphate galactose (UDP-galactose) from the cytosol into the Golgi apparatus, functioning as an antiporter that exchanges UDP-galactose for UMP (PubMed:12682060, PubMed:9010752). It is also able to exchange UDP-galactose for AMP and CMP, and to transport UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine (UDP-GalNAc) and other nucleotide sugars (PubMed:11784306, PubMed:12682060). As a provider of UDP- galactose to galactosyltransferases present in the Golgi apparatus, it is necessary for globotriaosylceramide/globoside (Gb3Cer) synthesis from lactosylceramide (PubMed:30817854). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:11784306, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12682060, ECO:0000269|PubMed:23561849, ECO:0000269|PubMed:30817854, ECO:0000269|PubMed:30834435, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9010752}. This is the function of SLC35A2 (solute carrier family 35 member A2, ENSG00000102100).