Restaurants Cross off some foods as Market prices become prohibitive.

By Alex Gahima

A number of restaurants operating within Kisoro Municipality have decided to temporarily remove some food items off their menus due to the high market prices.

Among the foods that are being scrapped include, Matooke, Irish potatoes and for some restaurants, even meat is being removed.

Monday market prices in Gatimba, located in the center of Kisoro Municipality had the biggest bunch of Banana (Matooke) at 55,000 Ugandan shillings.

Some media reports, indicate that last week’s market price for Matooke was at 70,000 Ugandan shillings per bunch.

A truck driver from Ntungamo, who preferred anonymity says, it is true, Matooke is very expensive because of two major reasons.

Firstly, the fuel prices are still high, and that cost needs to be transferred to the consumer.

A trip of Matooke from Ntungamo to Kisoro and back used to cost 150,000 Ugandan shillings but now, drivers plying the same route are parting with up to 280,000 Ugandan shillings.

The second reason, is the scarcity of Matooke in western Uganda due to the high demand has seen them rise in prices from 15,000 per bunch to 50,000 Ugandan shillings.

Market prices for Irish potatoes stand at 150,000 Ugandan shillings per sack while a bucket stands at 25,000 Ugandan shillings

A sack of Onions stands at 150,000 Ugandan shillings while a basket is at 35,000 Ugandan shillings.

Kemugisha Evaline, manager of Terrace land Restaurant says they have had to reduce the quantities of food they prepare because people are unwilling to pay extra for food.

She says a plate of food with beans as source is the cheapest food you can find at 5000 Ugandan shillings while other foods like fish are now at 14,000 Ugandan shillings.

Kisoro restaurants are largely dependent on people who visit the town on Mondays and Thursdays because of Market days as well as foreigners from outside Kisoro, who need places to eat.

‘Kabs’ of Kamwokya Restaurant says food prices have gone up including the price of milk tea from 1000 to 1500 Ugandan shillings.

Kabs says he advised his staff to first brief the customer about price changes serving them to avoid embarrassing the client.

Mbonigaba Augustine, the Chairperson of Kisoro Private Primary Schools Association says, shopping for pupils and students has become difficult because parents have not been able to send the learners with complete fees and yet food prices are very high.

Kisoro Mayor Richard Ndyana says the cause of high prices of food in Kisoro Municipality is the presence of Congolese who have increased the demand for food.

Since March 28^th of 2022, more than 30,000 Congolese fleeing political instability in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been criss crossing in and out of Kisoro seeking refuge.