Uganda Police has swung in action to effect president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s last evening directive.
This morning, four local traders have been detained by police in Koboko town in northern Uganda for allegedly taking advantage of the coronavirus lockdown to hike commodity prices.
Led by Koboko Resident District Commissioner, Capt. Yahaya Kakooza, the police locked the shops and arrested three Indians and a Uganda trader for allegedly hiking prices of essential goods like salt, sugar and other items.
The arrest followed complaints by consumers who accused the traders of being opportunits and trying fleece them.
The suspects include proprietors of Lila-D-Keshwala enterprise, home brother’s investment and Paul enterprise, all operating in Koboko Municipality.
By the time of filing this report on Tuesday evening, a packet of salt at the said outlets was being sold at Shs 3,000 up from Shs700.
In the rural areas, a packet of salt was being charged between Shs 3500 and Shs 4000, a record high in history of many consumers.
“It is true that coronavirus came with different impact but we shouldn’t use it as an advantage to exploit the poor. The people of Koboko never created coronavirus. Why must you hike prices just to fleece these poor people! This is against the law and you will have to face the courts of law,” Capt Yahaya said.
