Bean prices surge by 78% in Gulu amid supply shortage

What the report says

Prices of cereals have climbed sharply in Gulu City, northern Uganda, as supplies tighten and suppliers raise charges from inside and outside the Acholi sub-region, according to The Observer. Beans have seen the biggest jump, with the article saying prices rose by nearly 80% in recent weeks, putting pressure on households that rely on the staple food.

The report said that by Monday morning, a kilogramme of yellow beans was selling for about Shs 7,000 to Shs 8,000 in major markets and shops, up from roughly Shs 4,500 to Shs 5,000 in earlier weeks. Other items also became more expensive, including groundnuts, K20 beans, maize and peas. Traders and buyers in places such as Cerelenu Market and Palenga Main Market were described as coping with smaller purchases and rising demand pressure.

A cereal trader, Molly Wat-Oker, linked the increases to changing weather, reduced harvests and limited deliveries from farmers and suppliers. She said much of Gulu’s produce comes from nearby districts such as Nwoya and Amuru, with some supplies also arriving from Hoima. Omoro district agricultural officer Alex Jomo Oyet similarly pointed to prolonged drought and heavy dependence on rain-fed farming as key reasons for the shortage.

The article also highlighted the effect on residents, including a father of three in Gulu who said higher food costs were straining his household budget. The report noted that if supplies remain low, prices could rise further, though extra arrivals from western Uganda and the Elgon region may help ease the shortage.