Business
Fuel, fish post highest price hikes in 12 months — UBOS data
Petrol rose from sh4,710 to sh6,538 a litre over the same period, an increase of nearly 39%.
The fuel price rises have pushed up transport costs and the price of goods that depend on fuel to move from farms and factories to markets. (File photo)
By: Ali Twaha, Journalist @New Vision
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Ugandans are paying a lot more for fuel and fish than they did a year ago, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) Consumer Price Index report for July 2026.
However, prices of other key food staples such as matooke and beans have eased. Data from UBOS shows that a litre of diesel on average cost sh6,603 in July 2026, up from sh4,354 in July 2025, a jump of about 52%.
To put this in perspective, a taxi driver who used to spend sh100,000 filling a 23-litre tank with diesel in July 2025 now needs about sh152,000 for the same amount. Some of the extra money is passed on to passengers through higher fares.
Petrol rose from sh4,710 to sh6,538 a litre over the same period, an increase of nearly 39%. These fuel price rises have pushed up transport costs and the price of goods that depend on fuel to move from farms and factories to markets.
The commodity price movements come against a backdrop of rising headline inflation. UBOS reported that annual headline inflation stood at 4.0% in July 2026, up from 3.7% in June.
The report attributes the increase mainly to Energy, Fuel and Utilities inflation, which rose to 14.9% from 11.9%, and Food Crops and Related Items inflation, which climbed to 1.6% from 0.0%.
Petrol rose from sh4,710 to sh6,538 a litre over the same period, an increase of nearly 39%. These fuel price rises have pushed up transport costs and the price of goods that depend on fuel to move from farms and factories to markets.
The commodity price movements come against a backdrop of rising headline inflation. UBOS reported that annual headline inflation stood at 4.0% in July 2026, up from 3.7% in June.
The report attributes the increase mainly to Energy, Fuel and Utilities inflation, which rose to 14.9% from 11.9%, and Food Crops and Related Items inflation, which climbed to 1.6% from 0.0%.
“Prices of commodities have increased. It means you will spend more money to get the same litre of fuel. The water and electricity prices have equally increased, and you will see that in your bills for the month,” Juliet Nakayenga, a senior statistician at UBOS, said.
Basic protein sources also became markedly more expensive. A kilogram of mukene, a cheap fish relied on by many low-income households, rose from sh17,691 in July 2025 to sh22,155 in July 2026, up 25%.
Smoked Nile perch climbed from sh35,150 to sh40,227 a kilogram, a rise of about 14%. Tomatoes, a staple in most Ugandan kitchens, went up from sh2,410 to sh2,855 a kilogram, an increase of over 18%.
Matooke fell from sh1,028 to sh916 a kilogram over the same 12 months, while dry beans dropped from sh4,548 to sh3,910. Irish potatoes and onions also registered price declines.
Basic protein sources also became markedly more expensive. A kilogram of mukene, a cheap fish relied on by many low-income households, rose from sh17,691 in July 2025 to sh22,155 in July 2026, up 25%.
Smoked Nile perch climbed from sh35,150 to sh40,227 a kilogram, a rise of about 14%. Tomatoes, a staple in most Ugandan kitchens, went up from sh2,410 to sh2,855 a kilogram, an increase of over 18%.
Matooke fell from sh1,028 to sh916 a kilogram over the same 12 months, while dry beans dropped from sh4,548 to sh3,910. Irish potatoes and onions also registered price declines.