Uganda offers hope for Kenyan shoppers

PHOTO:COURTESY

The soaring cost of living in the country has forced scores of Busia residents to cross into Uganda to shop for basic commodities.

A spot check by The Standard showed locals crossing the border to buy essential items like sugar, milk, maize and wheat flour, which are more affordable there.

Retail shops in Uganda are selling a kilo of sugar at Sh150 compared to local supermarkets in Busia, where the cost has reached Sh200.

Meanwhile, unscrupulous business people have taken advantage of the unavailability of basic goods in local markets to smuggle them into the country.

Ugandan sugar and milk are finding their way through the porous borders of Busia and Malaba before being sold exorbitantly in Kenyan shops.

ONE WEEK

The manager of a mini-supermarket located less than two kilometres on the Ugandan side confirmed that for the last one week, Kenyans have been swarming to the chain store to shop.

"Most of our customers for the last one week have been coming from Kenya. They don't buy in bulk but in small quantities, certainly for family use," he confirmed.

Busia Traders Association chairman Stephen Obala blamed the devolved units for doing little to safeguard Kenyans from the high cost of living.

"The problem we are experiencing now cannot be blamed on the national government alone but the county governments as well because the essence of devolution was to bring resources nearer to the people," said Mr Obala.

Mary Anyango, one of the Kenyans who cross into Uganda to shop, the neighbouring country offered hope for Kenyans. 

"I cannot afford to shop in our local supermarkets so I cross into Uganda," she said.