Samuel Baguma
Population increase, high transport cost due to oil activities and increase in fuel price respectively; low agricultural production and drought have been cited as major factors that have led to an increase in food price in Hoima City.
Mr Adam Kato Adyeri, a banana vendor in Hoima central market, says the high demand and low supply for bananas has resulted in the price to hike from Shs15,000 to Shs30,000 for a big bunch while the smallest goes at Shs5,000 up from Shs3,000.
He says bananas that used to be bought from Greater Kibaale in Bunyoro region are currently not enough to feed the growing population in Hoima; coercing the vendors to travel as far as Mbarara and Kabarole districts to meet the unequal demand and supply.
Mr Kato attributes the low banana production in Bunyoro to the unfriendly weather that has seen the region receive unreliable rainfall unable to cause good banana growth and harvest.
Ms Immaculate Kahunde, also a vendor in the same market, is worried that unless Bunyoro receives good rainfall, the price of Irish potatoes will continue rising.
She says a sack of Irish potatoes has increased from Shs200,000 to Shs340,000 while a tin has increased from Shs25,000 to Shs45,000.
However, Ms Kahunde is optimistic that the scarcity and high price will be checked once the harvesting season sets in when other factors like enough rain among others remain constant.
A sack of sweet potatoes currently goes at Shs220,000 up from Shs150,000, according to Ms Caroline Mbabazi, a hike she attributes to an increase in fuel price and poor harvest due to a harsh hot weather.
Mr Samuel Mugabi, a tomato vendor in Hoima central market, says a big crate of tomatoes commonly known as ply has increased from Shs400,000 to Shs600,000 while the smallest crate goes at Shs60,000.
A kilogramme of ginger goes at Shs3,000 up from Shs2,500.
In other foodstuff prices, a sack of purple passion fruit is selling at Shs500,000 up from Shs480,000 while a watermelon goes between Shs5000, Shs10,000 and Shs15,000 that Mr Robert Bikobo says is also an increase.
However, he expects the price to decrease when the harvest season sets in.
A sack of oranges has reduced to Shs100,000 down from Shs150,000, a sack of green pepper goes at Shs100,000 down from Shs250,000; Kenya carrots have decreased from Shs150,000 to Shs120,000 while Uganda carrots go at Shs60,000 down from Shs70,000, according to Mr Yubu Matte, a vendor.
