Food prices to remain up till May â€" Bbumba
Mar 17, 2011
FOOD and fuel prices that have been rising in the past weeks are bound to continue till May when the first harvest of early maturing crops will be realised, the Government has warned.
By Prossy Nandudu
FOOD and fuel prices that have been rising in the past weeks are bound to continue till May when the first harvest of early maturing crops will be realised, the Government has warned.
Finance minister Syda Bbumba said the increasing food prices were due to the scarcity of food as a result of the prolonged drought that hit the country late last year up to early March.
She added that the drought had not only affected Uganda but also neighbouring countries like Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania.
Traders from these countries, Bbumba said, have, therefore, raided the Ugandan market, buying large quantities of food items like rice, maize, beans, matooke and irish potatoes.
She said increased prices of products like sugar and salt were due to an increase in fuel prices and the struggling shilling against the dollar.
As a result, fuel prices have increased, forcing transporters to hike fares.
Petrol is selling at sh3,500 per litre, up from sh3,300. Diesel is at sh3,000 per litre, up from sh2,800, while kerosene is at sh2,600 a litre, up from sh2200.
Traders said they were failing to travel to villages in search of food items due to increased fares.
Haji Sula Musana, a vendor at Nakasero Market who deals in matooke and irish potatoes, said they were forced to increase the prices due to increased transport costs.
A bunch of matooke is at sh25,000 up from sh10,000.
Another trader in Owino Market blamed the increase in matooke prices to scarcity of the crop in major producing districts like Masaka and Mbarara.
Bbumba advised the public to consume food and fuel sparingly until the situation stabilises.
FOOD and fuel prices that have been rising in the past weeks are bound to continue till May when the first harvest of early maturing crops will be realised, the Government has warned.
Finance minister Syda Bbumba said the increasing food prices were due to the scarcity of food as a result of the prolonged drought that hit the country late last year up to early March.
She added that the drought had not only affected Uganda but also neighbouring countries like Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania.
Traders from these countries, Bbumba said, have, therefore, raided the Ugandan market, buying large quantities of food items like rice, maize, beans, matooke and irish potatoes.
She said increased prices of products like sugar and salt were due to an increase in fuel prices and the struggling shilling against the dollar.
As a result, fuel prices have increased, forcing transporters to hike fares.
Petrol is selling at sh3,500 per litre, up from sh3,300. Diesel is at sh3,000 per litre, up from sh2,800, while kerosene is at sh2,600 a litre, up from sh2200.
Traders said they were failing to travel to villages in search of food items due to increased fares.
Haji Sula Musana, a vendor at Nakasero Market who deals in matooke and irish potatoes, said they were forced to increase the prices due to increased transport costs.
A bunch of matooke is at sh25,000 up from sh10,000.
Another trader in Owino Market blamed the increase in matooke prices to scarcity of the crop in major producing districts like Masaka and Mbarara.
Bbumba advised the public to consume food and fuel sparingly until the situation stabilises.