Four businessmen arrested for hiking salt prices

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Four businessmen including three Indians and one Ugandan have been arrested in Koboko Municipality for hiking salt prices.

The four were picked up by security personnel on Tuesday afternoon after a tip-off by locals and customers after realizing a drastic change in the price of salt. They had allegedly increased the price of a carton of salt from 25,000 to 90,000 Shillings and a packet of salt from 800 to 5,000 Shillings.

The two shops were immediately closed and the suspects ordered to record a statement at the police.

Since Sunday, prices of some essential food items like salt, packed rice, powder milk among others have had their prices triple with salt having the highest increase in most towns and trading centres of West Nile, Northern and Eastern Uganda.

The RDC Koboko Captain Yahaya Kakoza who led the team of security personnel to carry out the operation said the four men will answer charges of extortion, exploiting innocent and hoarding goods.

Meanwhile, in Arua district, a similar outcry over hiking of prices of essential goods has also been reported. The Deputy RDC Arua Alice Akello says they will on Wednesday start arresting those traders taking advantage of the citizens during this COVID -19 challenge.

“We are asking everyone who encounters exorbitant prices in the market and shops to immediately report to us for action,” said Ms Akello. The chairperson Chamber of Commerce Arua District and coordinator West Nile Business Community, Jackson Atima also warned the a business community not to create more anxiety among the poor communities.

On Tuesday afternoon, President Yoweri Museveni warned the traders that their licenses will be revoked if they are found hoarding goods, exploiting and scheming to exploit innocent citizens. “I will send spies to the town and if anyone is found hiking the price of food his license will be cancelled,” warned Museveni during his address.

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