Elderly persons in Hoima district are demanding that government sets up uniform prices for essential commodities across the country.
The persons argue that the setting of uniform commodity prices will guard against hoarding by some business persons and producers who withhold commodities in order to overcharge customers.
This comes after Bank of Uganda announced last week that headline inflation hit 21.4 percent, the highest in 17 years.
John Bagonza of Buhimba Trading center claims the current inflation in the country could be in one way or another aggravated by some unscrupulous business people hoarding goods to hike prices.
Bagonza says its high time government came in to regulate commodity prices by setting a uniform price like it was in the past governments.
The 81 year old says he depends on money raised from his coffee plantation and a few of his animals but due to the skyrocketing commodity prices the money realized cannot sustain him.
Mzee Tito Byabakuubo of Buhimba East village says this is the worst inflation that he has ever experienced in his lifetime. The 86 year old wonders how a kilogram of sugar can sell at 6,000 shillings yet people’s incomes are small.
Recalling the times when they used to buy a kilogram of sugar at 150 shillings, the ageing Byabakuubo cherished the past governments for setting up uniform prices for commodities.
He claims that in the Amin’s regime it was unlawful for one to charge a price outside the one established by government.
He urges the current government to use the same strategy to control the unnecessary hiking of commodity prices in a bid to curb the biting inflation.
The old man who can hardly walk, stays alone in the house as his only daughter got married in a far away area. His only source of livelihood is a small coffee plantation where he realizes money to afford basic necessities.
He says, however, his savings from the past season coffee sales are about to get finished due to the hiked commodity prices.
Joseph Isingoma, the elderly persons’ chairman in Hoima says his office understands what the elderly are going through in this biting inflation but there is little he can do to help.
Isingoma says however, his office is mobilizing the elderly to form groups and pool resources which will be supported by government.
He says about 21 groups have been formed so far in the district and urges the older persons to join them for their economic stability.
