Rising cost of production pushes bread prices higher by Shs1,000
By Ruth Nanyonga
The Uganda Bakers Association says rising costs of wheat flour, yeast and transportation will push up bread prices from November 2, increasing the cost of a staple food for households.
Ugandans will pay more for bread from Monday, November 2, after bakers announced price increases citing rising costs of raw materials and transportation.
The Uganda Bakers Association says the wholesale price of a 1kg loaf will rise from Shs5,500, with the recommended retail price expected to reach at least Shs6,500.
The price of a 500g loaf is also expected to increase from Shs3,000 to between Shs3,300 and Shs3,500, adding to the pressure on households already facing rising living costs.
The association’s chairperson, Gaster Lule Ntakke, said the decision followed a general meeting at which members reviewed production costs before agreeing on the new prices.
He attributed the increase to rising prices of wheat flour, yeast and transportation, saying bakeries could no longer absorb the additional costs without affecting their operations.
“After thorough discussions and calculations, we resolved to adjust our prices because the cost of our raw materials and transportation has continued to increase,” Ntakke said.
He appealed to consumers to bear with the bakers, arguing that the adjustment was necessary to sustain production while maintaining the quality of bread supplied to the market.
Ntakke said the association remained committed to producing bread that meets the required measurements and quality standards set by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards.
The increase comes amid broader cost-of-living pressures, with rising fuel prices adding to transportation and business operating costs.
Fuel prices have also come under scrutiny in Parliament, where legislators have raised concerns about petrol and diesel prices approaching Shs7,000 per litre.
The government has attributed the increases to several factors, including fluctuations in international oil prices, depreciation of the Uganda shilling and a Shs200 increase in fuel excise duty introduced in the 2026/2027 financial year.
Higher fuel costs can feed into the prices of goods as manufacturers, distributors and retailers face increased expenses transporting raw materials and finished products.
The new bread prices are expected to take effect on November 2, although the final retail price may vary between bakeries and outlets.