President Yoweri Museveni has warned traders hiking their prices in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic that they risk arrest or even worse losing their license to operate indefinitely.
He said taking advantage of the coronavirus situation to sell foodstuffs at exorbitant prices that their licenses will be canceled.
Museveni, who briefly addressed the nation on Tuesday afternoon, described the traders as “crooks”, noting that he would send spies in town to catch those increasing food prices.
The president also gave an alternative of instead organizing NRM cadres to bring food from the villages to the city so as to displace the traders.
The majority of Ugandans have expressed worry with the skyrocketing prices on essential products like foodstuffs after the health ministry confirmed 9 cases on Monday night.
In Kampala price of salt has increased to 3000 a sachet from 700, Rice is at 6000 from 4000 for a kg, posho 3000 from 2300 a kg, Sugar 5000 from 3000, others are g.nuts, cooking oil among others.
Traders have since doubled their prices as desperate and panicking Ugandans storm the markets to purchase these products to stock up in advance.
The president has advised Ugandans who present with symptoms similar to covid-19 to go for a check-up at any health center 3 nearest to them where they will be guided and samples taken to the Uganda Virus Institute for testing.
The president noted that besides the central testing area at Entebbe,there are over 100 testing centers in Uganda.
Museveni advised the public not to allow anyone who is sneezing or coughing next to them, owners of vehicles in public means not to allow anyone sneezing or coughing.
He also called on Ugandans to opt for crude soap and water to be used for washing hands properly not forgetting palms , fingers and the back as compared to sanitizers which are now costly.
The president says the soap kills the fat in the virus.
Museveni promised to talk to the National water cooperation NWSC about the price of water and update the public tommorrow.
