Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Col Dr Kizza Besigye has been arrested as he tried to leave his home to protest against the current skyrocketing commodity prices in the country.
The four time presidential candidate was on Thursday morning intercepted by security operatives and returned to his home in Kasangati, Wakiso District as he attempted to get out in a new drive dubbed awakening the citizens of Uganda.
He was intercepted moments after he addressed journalists and said he intends to start a campaign which he described as a wakeup call for all the citizens to regain their country.
Of late, Uganda has been experiencing a surge in commodity prices since the re-opening of the economy in January this year, with the petrol prices jumping 19% this year to an average Shs 5,300 per litre.
A 1kg bar of soap now costs between Shs7, 500 and Shs10, 000 up from about Shs 4,500 in January this year.
Similarly, a kilogramme of rice goes for between Shs4,500 and Shs5,000, depending on the type up from Shs3,000, while that of maize flour has climbed to Shs3,000 from Shs1,500 during same period under review.
However, Julius Mukunda, the executive director at the CSBAG said the government should regulate prices for a section of commodities, especially fuel as it does with electricity.
“Let us not ran away. Umeme cannot wake up today and increase the price of electricity without the permission of the Uganda Electivity Regulatory Authority,” he said.
He said there’s need for the government to also stir production and consumption to stimulate economic growth.
Pamela Mbabazi, Chairperson of National Planning Authority said the agency has drafted an import substitution action plan that identifies and prioritizes key strategic commodities whose domestic demand should be increased or created.
She said the selection of these commodities have been based on the analysis of Uganda’s local industrial production capacities and able to meet local and regional demands.
She said the prioritized commodities includes petroleum products, iron and steel, medical and pharmaceutical products, veterinary drugs and medicines, cereals, plastics, textile, soap, fertilizer, sugar.
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