By Godwin Abedican

Arua

Dealers in hardware and building materials are experiencing low sales amid rising costs of goods by suppliers compounded by the reopening of schools across the country. The traders describe the season from December to March as being the most profitable season in their business, but this time round it is business unusual since there have been cases of inflation mainly associated to increasing demand and the unstable prices of fuel across the country.
Ewama Moses the manager Zati Enterprises along Adumi road, says much as these challenges have come there is hope it will come back to normal. “What I have observed in the last two months in the hardware or construction business is the unstable prices. One key factor has been the price instability of cement. Because of the Russia Ukraine war, since east Africa relies on cheaper steel and iron products from that region which means the war is directly affecting us in Arua and West Nile,” he said. He says there is hope that after the schools have reopened soon they will start making reasonable sales. “If parents met their obligations, in two weeks we would have boom because immediately school authorities receive money, they will rush to us for construction materials,”Ewama added.

Richard Opia, from EG and Brothers Arua on Rhino camp road who deals in hard ware including plumbing and electrical materials says, most times its very hard for the customers to understand the changes in prices especially where they are forced to have an upward price adjustments.
According to him, most of the hardware materials have had an increase in prices. “Most of these hardware materials, their prices have increased, the suppliers are complaining of high prices of fuel, so for us who are retail sellers, it has affected us also. Price wise some little addition has been put on some materials.”
He says whenever it reaches school time, people pose a bit with construction and shift their focus to school issues whish also affects their sales. 
Droma Fahad the manager Ndiri Jazah enterprises, opposite OB plaza says taxes have also partly led to the increase in prices of commodities hence reducing demand. “At the festive period business was so booming but since January, many people are now aiming at paying their children’s school fees. Taxes is also part of the problem because when government is trying to reinstate or come along with some new taxes, it also affects commodities and from there prices of items start to go up” Droma narrated.

According to some prices in the market, metro cement which was initially at 35,000 per bag currently lies between 37,000 and 39000 while on the other hand Tororo cement ranges between 38,000 and 40,000 per bag. The high price of Tororo cement is attributed to the challenges of power due to vandalism of power lines towards the factory.