FOOD PRICE SHOCK! Uganda’s Inflation Jumps to 0.9% as Matooke, Beans, Milk Prices Soar
By Evans Najuna
KAMPALA — Uganda’s monthly headline inflation has surged to 0.9 percent in September 2026, up sharply from 0.3 percent in August, as rising food, fuel and transport costs put fresh pressure on consumers.
The latest figures released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) on Wednesday show that food prices were the biggest driver of the monthly increase, with Food Crops and Related Items Inflation jumping to 7.0 percent from 1.2 percent.
The sharp rise was driven by higher prices of key household staples, including matooke, beans, mangoes, sweet potatoes and milk.
Matooke prices climbed 16 percent during the month, compared with an 8.4 percent increase in August, while beans rose 6.3 percent, up from 2.4 percent.
Mango prices increased by 25.6 percent, compared with 24.8 percent in August, while sweet potatoes shot up by 13 percent, reversing a 5.6 percent decline recorded in August.
Milk prices also increased by 7.3 percent, compared with a 2.2 percent rise the previous month.
FUEL PRICES ADD TO PRESSURE
The rising cost of food was accompanied by higher energy and fuel prices, with Energy, Fuel and Utilities (EFU) Inflation rising to 0.5 percent from 0.2 percent.
UBOS attributed the increase mainly to liquid energy fuels, whose inflation climbed to 1.5 percent from 0.1 percent.
Petrol prices rose by 1.5 percent, compared with no change in August, while diesel prices increased by 1.8 percent, up from 0.8 percent.
Cooking gas prices rose by 1.3 percent, while kerosene increased by 0.9 percent, reversing a 0.3 percent decline recorded in August.
Charcoal prices also increased by 0.9 percent.
FOOD AND TRANSPORT HIT HOUSEHOLDS
Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages Inflation rose to 2.6 percent from 0.5 percent, while monthly Transport Inflation climbed to 0.7 percent, compared with zero percent in August.
Recreation, Sport and Culture Inflation increased to 1.0 percent from 0.4 percent, while Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance rose to 0.5 percent from zero.
Health Inflation also increased to 0.3 percent from 0.1 percent.
However, some sectors recorded slower price increases.
Personal Care, Social Protection and Miscellaneous Goods Inflation eased to 0.1 percent from 0.2 percent, while Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels Inflation declined to 0.1 percent from 0.2 percent.
Information and Communication Inflation fell sharply to 0.1 percent from 3.1 percent.
Clothing and Footwear, Education Services, Insurance and Financial Services, and Restaurants and Accommodation Services all recorded zero monthly inflation.
ANNUAL INFLATION ALSO RISES
The price pressure was also reflected in the annual figures, with Uganda’s headline inflation rising to 4.6 percent in the 12 months to September 2026, from 4.1 percent in the year to August.
Annual Food Crops and Related Items Inflation rose to 4.5 percent from 2.1 percent, while Annual Core Inflation increased to 3.7 percent from 3.5 percent.
UBOS attributed the rise in food inflation to higher prices of dry beans, milk, fresh cassava, sweet potatoes and green cabbage.
Higher prices of laundry soap, rice, fresh meat, mukene and maize flour also contributed to the increase in core goods inflation.
Annual Energy, Fuels and Utilities inflation edged up to 14.5 percent from 14.3 percent, with annual petrol inflation reaching 30.9 percent and diesel inflation climbing to 42.5 percent.
The September figures therefore point to renewed pressure on household budgets, particularly from food and energy costs, as the overall pace of price increases accelerates.
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