Food prices shoot up in Christmas season

Food prices in markets around Kampala metropolitan area have shot up in the festive season.
A survey conducted by Daily Monitor in Nakasero, Usafi, Banda and Mukono markets yesterday showed an increment in the price of all products apart from beef and goat meat.

Traders attributed the high prices to shortage of agricultural products supply to Kampala because of heavy rain that destroyed crops, fruits and vegetables.
The affected goods include Matooke, ground nuts, Irish potatoes, beans, fruits and cooking spices.
“The prices of these food products have gone up because most farmers increased the prices at the farm. This forces me to sell according to how I purchase,” Ms Mariam Nabakooza, a matooke seller in Nakasero Market, said.
Ms Nabakooza and other traders buy matooke from western Uganda.
By press time, a bunch was being sold at between Shs25,000 and Shs60,000 depending on the size and maturity. Previously, a bunch cost between Shs20,000 and Shs40,000 at the same market.

However, at Mukono Market, the price of a bunch of Matooke was relatively cheaper, costing between Shs15,000 and Shs50,000 whereas in Banda, one had to part with between Shs23,000 and Shs50,000, and Shs1,000 for eight fingers.
In Nakasero, a kilogramme of ground nuts has increased from Shs5,000 to between Shs5,500 and Shs7,000 depending on the grinded type.
According to Mr Habib Mukisa, a trader, they plan to keep the same prices of foods until the festive season ends.
For rice, the prices have shot up from Shs3,200 to Shs8,000 per a kilogramme at Nakasero market depending on the type.
Ms Ritah Namusoke at Mukono Market said a sack of Irish potatoes increased from Shs160,000 to Shs200,000.

Mr Geofrey Golola, who sells fruits at Nakawa market, said prices had already been hiked since the first week of December.
He said a kilogramme of Tangerine increased from Shs2,000 to 3,000, a container of grapes from Shs10,000 to Shs11,000 and a kilogramme of passion fruits from Shs4,000 to Shs5,000.
Mr Golola said he sells three or four pieces of oranges at Shs1,000 while one apple still costs Shs1,000.
Ms Edith Mulokole, a vegetable seller at Usafi market, expects a slight increase in the prices because farmers have also hiked the farm prices.
A kilogramme of tomatoes ranges between Shs2,000 to Shs3,000 while onions have increased from Shs2,500 to Shs3,000 per kilogramme.
One can buy a kilogramme of green pepper at Shs4,000, a kilogramme of French beans at Shs2,500, cucumber at Shs4,000 a kilo, cabbage from Shs2,000 to Shs5,000 a piece and a pack of garlic at Shs2,500.
A water melon ranges between Shs5,000 and Shs10,000 depending on the size.
At Mukono market, the price of a box of tomatoes has increased from Shs300,000 to Shs400,000 from eight pieces at Shs1,000 to four pieces.
A box of onions has increased from Shs300,000 to Shs350,000, carrots from Shs150,000 to Shs180,000 a box, two pieces at Shs1,000. Two pieces of green pepper at Shs1,000 from six pieces in the last month.

Mr Robert Elangot, a trader at Banda market, said the prices of chicken will most likely raise by about Shs1,000 from December 24 depending on the flow of the customers.
The price of Kuroilers still range between Shs15,000 and 30,000. Off layers range between Shs17,000 and 18,000. Broilers range from Shs13,000 and Shs15,000.
However, Ms Dorothy Musisi, a trader at Nakasero market, said the chicken prices have not been raised because the demand was still low. For someone who buys in big quantities,, it is cheaper because they are given discounts.
Broilers cost between Shs13,000 and Shs15,000, an off-layer is at Shs15,000 to Shs20,000 depending on the size. Kuroilers range from Shs25,000 to Shs35,000. Parent stock goes for Shs50,000.

Local chicken breeds were still at a standard price of Shs25,000 (hens) and Shs30,000 or Shs40,0000 (cocks).
With beef, a kilogramme costs Shs12,000 while a kilogramme of liver is still sold at Shs20,000. Goat meat goes for Shs15,000 per kilogramme.
However, the price of beef is expected to rise by Shs1,000 or Shs2,000 depending on the demand, according to Mr Muhammud Ssetaba of Nakasero.
“We usually increase the prices of beef and other related types by a small percentage during Christmas depending on the flow of customers but return to the normal prices after the season,” Mr Ramathan Sserwada at Banda market said.

Shopkeepers against hawkers
In Kampala Central Business District, shopkeepers were crying foul, saying it is hard to compete with the hawkers who sell cheaply because they don’t pay rent.
“We hardly sell because they [hawkers] have positioned at our entrances. We can’t do anything but simply look on because Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is also nowhere to put them off the streets,” Ms Cathy Namatovu, a trader at the Nabukeera plaza in Kampala.

The transport fares have also increased, leaving many travellers stranded.
For instance, people travelling to Mukono and Kamuli districts had to pay double of their original rates. Fares from Kampala to Mukono rose from Shs2,500 to Shs5,000 while transport to Kamuli increased from Shs12,000 to Shs25,000.
“I failed to travel yesterday because of high rates. I was shocked this morning to find that we are paying Shs25,000 to go to Kamuli yet we have been paying only Shs12,000,” Ms Cissy Tabingwa said.

Ms Christine Kawalya, a stranded mother of four at the new Taxi Park said: “We are waiting for our brother to send us some more transport top up.”
Mr Twaha Ssali, the secretary of the Masaka taxi stage in the New Taxi Park, said the pressure to increase the fares is because taxi owners make the demand and have few passengers on return journeys.
“We are forced to increase because our bosses demanded more from us. We also feel the pinch but it we are forced to do so. You find that we drive empty taxis on our way back from Masaka and that is why we charge this much on those that are leaving Kampala,” Mr Ssali said.
“The traffic jam in town makes us spend more on fuel forcing drivers to increase the fares,” he added.
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