Commodity prices continue to rise and fall in Kampala

These markets usually set the price which other smaller markets, within Kampala, adopt. Farther afield, prices may vary according location and access to customers as well as product variations in the actual commodities themselves.

Consequently, around Kampala, a sack of passion fruits is sold between shs200,000 and shs240,000 while a kilogram goes for around shs5000 to shs6000 depending on the type, size and market where you are purchasing it.

In Kalerwe Market, a kilogram of hybrid passion fruits is sold at shs5000 and the local ones are sold at shs5500, while in Nakasero Market a kilogram of hybrid is sold at shs5500 and the local ones are sold at shs6000.

Hybrid fruits, such as passion fruits, are a variety made by naturally crossbreeding two separate varieties to create a new one.

The rising fuel prices have increased the prices of commodities, especially those manufactured from factories, say Kampala City traders.

Commodity prices in Kampala Pulse Live Uganda

Fuel prices around the country began to shoot up at the beginning of this year. Today, petrol stands at around shs5070 per litre and diesel at shs4430 per litre.

According to Kampala city traders, the high fuel prices have led to an increase in prices of factory-made commodities especially those that use petroleum products as inputs such as petroleum jelly-based products soap.

A bar of soap (White Star) that ranged between shs3500 to shs4000 now goes for between shs5500 to shs6000. A bar of Popco soap is between shs4500 to shs4700, while a bar of Chapa Nyota is between shs3000 to shs3500.

“We are praying for fuel prices to reduce because they have affected the prices of commodities especially those manufactured in factories,” Bob Mugarura, a city trader said.

However, Musa Ssenabulya, the chairperson of Kampala Burcher Trader's Association (KABUTA), an umbrella body for butchers and meat traders in Kampala said the price of meat is stable.

He notes that the supply of meat is greater than its demand, hence the prices have not been affected by the fuel crisis in Uganda.

“Most of the cattle markets like Ngoma, Butawata, Nakasongola, Kyankwanzi, Kinyogoga, among others that were quarantined because of foot and mouth disease for the last three years have now been allowed to operate fully,” he added.

A week ago, the Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development (Minerals), Peter Lokeris, told parliament that petroleum fuel prices are expected to return to normal by 10 February 2022.

In the first week of the new year, the country experienced a hike in petroleum prices by Shs550 from Shs4,450 per litre as of 17 December 2021, to the current Shs5,000 per litre.

“The high petrol pump prices of petroleum products are caused by product scarcity and once supply returns to normal, prices will become competitive again,” said Lokeris.

Lokeris said that if pump prices go beyond acceptable levels, the Petroleum Supply Act under Section 30 empowers the minister to ensure fuel operators normalise their prices.

“The action can constitute closure of petrol stations, issuance of penalties or revocation of licenses in extreme cases,” said Lokeris.

The minister was delivering the government’s position on escalating petroleum prices during plenary sitting in parliament.

Lokeris said the reduction in stock levels of petrol in the country was caused by the measures put in place to control the spread of Covid-19 by the Ministry of Health.