Millions of Ugandans are likely to continue feeding on one meal a day while others will have to sleep on empty stomachs as the prices of food have continued to shoot up in the markets, Spyreports has learnt.
According to the Consumer Price Index report released by Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) today shows the rapid increase of food prices in the month of February compared to January.
Mrs Juliet Nakayenga the Principal Statistician incharge of Price Statistics at UBOS says the prices of food items mainly used at homes in the market have all shot up compared to last month prices. “Increase of food prices in the market is as a result of seasonal changes, demand and supply among others,” she says . She added that some of the food prices that have increased include maize flour, smoked Tilapia,Fresh Tilapia,Beef,Fresh Casava,Irish potatoes,Onians,Matooke,Tomatoes among others. “The prices of the mentioned food items have increased by shs 5000 from the previous price,”She revealed adding if you send your child in the market for food, he or she may come back entpy handed due to increase in prices.
Forestsnce the price of smoked Tilapia has increased from Shs 36547 in January to shs 40894 in February, Fresh Tilapia from Shs 17345 to Shs 17529 per Kg in February.
The price boss didn’t stop at people sleeping on empty stomachs, she further said hundreds of Ugandans will resume to use foot transport as the Prices of fuel have also escalated in the month of February compared to January. “A liter of petrol has increased from 5058 in January to shs 5130 in February. This increase my force people to park their vehicles and use other transport means,” She says adding that the prices of Diesel, Firewood, Charcoal have also increased.
“The Annual Energy fuel and Utilities inflation increased to 2.7% in February from 1.7% in January,” she says adding that the increase was a result of annual liquid Energy fuels inflation that increased from to 1.7 from 0.2%. report says the price by 3.4% from 1.3%. she says, in addition annual sold fuel inflation shot up from 5.3% to 7.3% in February.
Charcoal prices also increased by 6.0% from 4.6% , Fired wood prices also escalated by 10.3% from 6.9% among others. However she says, “Despite having increase of several prices of goods and services, the Country’s annual inflation in February has slowed to 2.9% from 3.2% in January.
