A number of vendors operating around Namugongo Catholic Shrine have reduced the price of different commodities as a mechanism to attract customers (pilgrims) who had reduced consumption over high prices.
According to Robert Kintu, a chapati seller, despite the increasing number of pilgrims in the area, his sales have remained low compared to previous years.
“In the previous years, I could make a daily profit of UGX 100,000, but this time I am struggling to earn that money. I think many pilgrims can’t afford a chapati at UGX 1,000. But we had to cut the price to get customers,” Kintu said.
Forouk Mutebi, a clothing dealer, said that people have the desire to buy clothes, but the price appears to be high for them, adding that the people seem to be strained economically.
“At first, I thought that they were not buying because supply was higher than demand. There are many vendors here selling clothes; however, people come and check, but many are ending at the negotiation level and moving away. The solution to this state is lowering the prices of our commodities to get many of them to buy them,” Mutebi said.
Ronald Mwesigwa, a pork seller, said that his business did not work well in the first two days. He, however, revealed that he started receiving more customers on Saturday evening after he had lowered a kilogram of pork from UGX15,000 to UGX14,000.
However, Beatrice Nekesa, alias Mama Fiina, who sells cooked pilau, said that she has been receiving a number of customers, and she hopes to get more on the last day of the Uganda Martyrs celebration.
The economic situation at the Namugongo Martyrs Anglican site is not different from that at the Catholic shrine.
According to Samuel Okaba, a pilgrim, most of the pilgrims spent their money on the way to Namugongo. He added that the money they have now is for their transport back to their respective homes.
During the closing of the Uganda Martyrs’ Day celebrations on Monday, June 3, 2024, President Museveni is expected to attend.
