Rains bring hope to vegetable lovers as food prices soar

Some parts of Busoga have received moderate rains, resulting into sporadic, moderate harvests that have attracted a drop in vegetable prices. 

Owing to the rains, prices for dodo, nakati, eggplant, entula among others have relatively dropped in Kamuli and Buyende districts. 

In Kamuli Central market in Kamuli Municipality, one can access sizeable bundle (omulengo) of dodo for 500/- and tomatoes, although ground nut and sim-sim paste have remained at 4,500/- and 7,000/- per kilo respectively.    

However, Buyende district is being dogged by a "silent" food scarcity, due to the poor harvests of the previous season coupled by this season's poor rain pattern, forcing food prices up. 

"We thought this season would be better, but it is the opposite. Due to poor yields, we no longer use sticks to harvest potatoes. We use hoes, implying that we completely destroy the mounds."  Dr. James Wakabi, the Sub County Extension Officer for Kagulu, said.

"People shall not have "omukeke" (dried potato chips) by the onset of next year" he added.

In Irundu, Igwaya, Mpunde, Nsomba trading centers  and Iyingo landing site, a kilo of super maize flour shot from 1,800/- to 2,200/- , rice from 1,800/- to between 2,600/- and 3,000/- in the past two months. 

According to the LC3 Chairman for Kagulu, artiste Stephen Malagala, dried cassava has shot from 500/- to 900/- while  the flour, popularly known as "ochada " has shot from 800/- to 1,400/-, the signs of an impending famine next year.     

"Unless we get more rains, famine looms next year," Malagala the artiste-turned politician, said.