KAMPALA | SCHOOL | REOPENING

Noise from the banging of scrap steel to be used for fabricating school cases welcomes you to Kisenyi, in downtown Kampala, ahead of schools reopening for the first term of 2023.

Fabricators are tapping into this open market for steel cases and other steel products for schools.

Metallic cases are mainly fabricated from steel scrap products, such as the remains of roofing iron sheets and used petroleum drums, among other products.

Joseph Mukasa, one of the fabricators of different domestic and industrial products, in Kisenyi, said they have now zeroed in on products like cases for students and big saucepans for schools, among others.

"The major reason for fabricating school cases from scrap steel products is to reduce the cost of production; otherwise, they could not be affordable to many parents if we were using new steel sheets," said Mukasa.

Dealers in maize in Kisenyi on demand amiong those suppying schools with maize flour

He said they mainly deal with bulk buyers, who sometimes first deposit money for the purchase of raw materials.

"The wholesale price for a single case ranges from Sh15,000 to Sh85,000 depending on the size, quality of materials, and the workmanship," he said.

Annet Bukirwa, a retailer of school cases in Nakawa, Kampala, said though parents have started buying, there are still few.

"Many parents prefer buying scholastic material towards the beginning of the school term when the prices are up due to high demand," said Bukirwa.

Other current booming businesses in the education industry include those dealing with the supply of food to schools.

Edward Tatwale, a maize miller in Kisenyi dealing in Mukwano Maize Flour products, said suppliers of schools with maize flour have started stocking maize in stores.

Parents buying school bags from a s sreet vendor

He said the forthcoming school term will open at the peak of the maize harvest when prices are low due to increased supply.

He said the maize price has dropped from an average of Sh1,700 per kilogram to an average of sh1,200.

A 50 kg bag of maize flour has also gone down to an average sh135,000 from an average of sh150,000.

Tatwale said schools are to benefit more from the current lowering of prices for maize flour brought about by the rainy season that covered most parts of the country.

Dealers in other scholastic products like school bags, new and used shoes, and school uniforms, among others, have increased stocks to tap into the season for schools reopening.