The recent skyrocketing prices of commodities prompted Members of Parliament last week to task the Government to provide accountability for the situation, saying that their silence shows how unconcerned the state is to the plight of Ugandans.
One of the MPs, Naomi Kabasharira representing Rushenyi County in Ntungamo, complained that Uganda has become a country of exploitation where many foreigners come into the country and take advantage of Ugandans, increasing prices at their will without any sanctions against them.
Another section of MPs proposed that the Government should suspend taxes on some commodities so that they can be imported at a cheaper price, for instance fuel that has been responsible for the surging costs of other products.
According to RX Radio Presenter Olive Najjuma, fuel prices are steadily rising yet many thought the issue would be solved a few weeks after the lifting of the Covid-19 border restrictions.
“Fuel prices went up when truck drivers decided to strike against the Covid-19 testing fees at the border. When they were let in, we were told that in two weeks or a month, fuel prices would subside but to this day, nothing has changed. The Ministry of Finance had promised a comprehensive report that would be used to monitor fuel prices but at fuel pumps, the price is still 5000 shillings a litre. Now as we speak a bar of soap costs about 7000 - 9000 shillings. As for cooking oil, I won't even say.”
James Onen commonly known as Fatboy, a Co-host of the show said that it was aggrieving for people who hoped that this would be their year of restoration yet now they have to suffer the high costs of essential products.
“It's so sad because we were thinking this would be the= year to make up for the lost time. A lot of people hoped that this year would be the bonanza that they were looking to since the last two years to prosper and shine but unfortunately those dreams are being thwarted by these ridiculous economic conditions,” he said.
However, on a positive note, he asked Olive whether this would be an opportunity for Ugandans to lose weight, something she disagreed to saying that people would rather spend and stay sedentary than put effort into eating healthy.
The Fatboy show is hosted by James Onen aka Fatboy, Olive and Sarah every weekday from 6am to 10am on RX Radio.