Tomatoes, greens drive Uganda’s inflation surge-UBOS
Monthly headline inflation for February 2025 rose by 0.6%, more than doubling the 0.3% recorded in January. UBOS data, released on February 28, highlighted a dramatic surge in tomato prices, jumping from 4.7% in January to 12.4% in February.
The cost of living in Uganda has climbed sharply, with tomatoes and fresh leaf vegetables emerging as the biggest contributors to monthly inflation, according to the latest data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS).
Monthly headline inflation for February 2025 rose by 0.6%, more than doubling the 0.3% recorded in January. UBOS data, released on February 28, highlighted a dramatic surge in tomato prices, jumping from 4.7% in January to 12.4% in February. Fresh leaf vegetables also saw a spike, rising from 8.9% to 11.9% over the same period.
Other food staples contributed to inflationary pressures, including fresh cassava, which increased from 2.5% in January to 4.1% in February, and dry beans, which rose from 0.4% to 2.8%. Fresh tilapia prices also soared, climbing from 9.6% in January to 15.7% in February.
In real market prices, a kilogram of tomatoes now costs Shs2,813, up from Shs2,576 in January. Green pepper prices have surged from Shs2,267 to Shs3,261 per kilogram, while fresh tilapia has risen from Shs16,098 to Shs17,231 per kilogram.
UBOS microeconomic statistician Samuel Echoku attributed the price hikes to supply-demand dynamics and seasonal shortages, especially during the dry season. Reduced harvests due to unfavorable weather conditions have further strained food supplies.
Annual headline inflation for the year ending February 2025 inched up to 3.7% from 3.6% in January, while core inflation—excluding volatile food prices—eased slightly from 4.2% to 3.9%.
Despite inflationary pressures, slight declines were recorded in passenger transport costs and education services. However, staple foods like rice, maize flour, sugar, matooke, fresh cassava, beans, and green pepper continued to rise, straining household budgets.
Economists warn that unless agricultural production stabilizes, food inflation could persist, making basic commodities even more unaffordable. Meanwhile, policymakers are monitoring the situation to explore possible interventions, while consumers are advised to seek alternative food options and adopt cost-saving strategies.
