Residents in Mbale city are crying about the rising prices of commodities which is making lives hard and they have demanded city leaders to intervene in the matter.
The prices of commodities started rising in October and November last year with the instant increase in prices of fuel.
In Mbale city, the prices of household commodities are more than doubled which is worrying the residents in the area.
A kilo of Kaiso rice that has been at 2400 shillings is now ranging between 3000 and 3200 while Super Rice is trading at 40000 per Kilogram., a bar of white star soap now costs 65000, a litter of cooking oil jumped from 8000 shillings to 10000 shillings.
Mubaje safiyu a resident of Mbale city Says that they don’t know where to run to due to the increasing prices of products in the city. Safiyu says that they wonder whether the leaders are watching the current situation in the country or just sleeping. He asks the leaders to intervene and debate about the matter.
Pastor Mather Mutera a chef and cake baker says that people don’t have money due to the effects of covid 19 that left many people’s businesses down making the situation harder.
Abdallah Lutalo a vendor at Imran stage says that they are making a timetable for bathing due to the high prices of soap. He says that they are yet to start bathing twice a week. He calls upon the Bugisu region leaders to wake up and help people.
Masombo Muhamad another vendor at Aswan stage 1 says that they are yet to adopt the old system of using leaves as soap to bath. He says that the little money they earn is not enough to buy the highly-priced commodities.
Wilber Hinghanda a retailer in Mbale city says that prices have been fair but now they keep on raising. He adds that the box of soap has been at 88000 but is now at 106,000.
Musa Luwemba a social scientist at Islamic university in Uganda says that the government has not protected the interests of the consumers by failing to regulate the prices through subsidies, financial support, and creating a fair banking system for those involved in production.
He however says that the production and supply chain was interrupted by the covid 19 which led to restrictions in trade.
