Moroto RDC Curses Traders For Hiking Salt Prices

Karamoja sub region, where Moroto is part of, is classified as one of the world’s poorest areas, with high rates of malnutrition and a disproportionate number (61 percent) of its 1.2 million people, living in absolute poverty.

As the President just announced the total lock down of movements in the country for the next 14 days, the Moroto Resident District Commissioner [RDC], Peter Keen Lochap has raised curses on traders who are taking advantage of the situation to hike prices of commodities in the district.

According to the RDC, all traders who have hiked commodity prizes in the district amidst this pandemic scare shall never prosper for trying to exploit the community and yet, Government has not stopped importation of such commodities.

“I want to tell you, no one who is cheating our people by unfairly multiplying prizes will ever get rich and prosper in this region. We the Karimojongs, most especially elders when we speak, it happens: I Peter Keen Lochap has spoken, they will not get rich,” said Lochap.

By today [Tuesday 31^st March, 2020], the prices of salt varied from one shop to another with the highest being sold at 3500/= a sachet of 500gm that initially costed between 600 and 700.

One retailer in Cambiswahili ward, a business center of Moroto Municipality, who only identified himself as Lorot, disclosed to Aica that wholesalers have more than tripled the carton prices of salt.

“We are no longer selling salt because people think we are cheating them. Since I bought my two cartons, I have not recovered my money and already the prices are decreasing seriously meaning people go to the cheaper stores,” said Lorot.

He added that Gov’t should intervene in the matter very fast because they may end up making too big losses because of few individuals who are after getting the money very fast amidst the lockdown.

However, the RDC warned that the people who have hiked the prizes if found, are most likely to face the law.

He said the President directed his office to investigate and close all businesses of persons who have hiked the prices until the end of the lockdown.

Mr. Locap adds that his office together with other law enforcement teams are planning to storm the stores in town to crack down such unpatriotic persons who are taking advantage of the Wanainchi.

Karamoja sub region, where Moroto is part of, is classified as one of the world’s poorest areas, with high rates of malnutrition and a disproportionate number (61 percent) of its 1.2 million people, living in absolute poverty.

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