David Luwandagga

As the president’s directive to maintain social distancing and countrywide curfew enrolls to its final days, most commodities in and around Kampala’s commodity market registered low demand. Consumers stayed away from the usually crowded markets. Supply throughout the week was slow and demand for maize was mainly for production of posho within the city suburbs.

There has been regulated supply of maize to the market in general. Maize grain major markets registered different trends. Kampala received plenty of maize at the opening of the week and the supply rendered the market price stable at Ugx.930/kg. Apparently, the maize flour price is still high at Ugx.93, 000-95,000 per 50kg sack wholesale

The produce market at Busia border post registered very high demand for beans at the opening of September, however, supply was low. Only 200Mt of assorted beans varieties were traded daily throughout the first week of September. Yellow and sugar beans were preferred by the transit traders from Kenya. Yellow beans were bought at Ksh.98/kg

Newly harvested beans were received in major markets. In Kampala, new yellow beans were offered at Ugx.3500-3600/kg while old stock was offered slightly cheaper. Short Nambale variety sold at Ugx.3500-3600/kg, Large Nambale beans cost Ugx.3200-3300/kg. Rosecoco beans sold at Ugx.3000-3200/kg and Masavu (sugar beans) at Ugx.3600-3700/kg wholesale price. Supply was registered from Kagadi, Hoima, Kiboga,

Several stockiest started buying and stocking maize grain in a number of locations. In Kamwenge, they bought maize at Ugx.900-920/kg depending on quality. The quality was better and well dried. Millers had also stepped up their purchases for providing posho. In Kapchorwa, where it continued to rain, the quality of grain was not yet good.

High volumes of maize grain were recorded at the regional cross border market in Busia. An estimated 1000Mt of grain was traded daily throughout the past week. Good quality maize grain was offered at Ksh.29/kg. (Ugx.1015), Fair quality at Ksh.28.5/kg (Ugx.997) while the least acceptable quality usually for animal feeds at Ksh.22.7/kg (Ugx.794) The grain

In the fish market, it was reported that the fish price especially for Nile Perch declined to Ugx.6500-7000/kg at the three major fish distribution centres in town of Kireka, Bwayise and Busega. Traders attribute the increased supply to the strict laws of catching only mature fish and zero tolerance to transportation of immature fish. Tilapia