Prices of some foodstuff have continued to go up in most markets around Kigali, according to a mini-survey carried out by Business Times.

Prices of ordinary Irish potatoes have increased to Rwf280 per kilogramme, from Rwf230 a kilo in Kimironko market, while the Kinigi type costs up to Rwf300 per kilo, from Rwf280. The price of tomatoes went up to Rwf10,000 a basin, from Rwf8,000 last week, while onions cost Rwf1,000 per kilo, up from Rwf900.

Clementine Uwineza and Theoneste Hakizimana, vendors in Batsinda and Kimironko markets, respectively, attributed the increase to low supplies from Northern Province, the main Irish potato growing area in Rwanda due to the dry season.

However, the prices of fresh peas dropped to Rwf1,300 per kilo, down from Rwf1,500 the previous week, while bananas declined to Rwf200 from Rwf250 in Kimironko Market. Beef ranges from Rwf2,200 to Rwf2,500 per kilogramme in neighbourhood slaughterhouses, but is at Rwf3,000 in Nakumatt Supermarket.

Meanwhile, the prices of other foodstuffs are unchanged. Sweet potatoes go for Rwf300 a kilo, fresh cassava roots are at Rwf300 per kilogramme, and a kilogramme of beans costs Rwf350 in Nyabugogo Market.

Cabbages range from Rwf350 to Rwf500 each, depending on size, carrots cost Rwf700 per kilogramme, while prices of pumpkins were unchanged at between Rwf500 and Rwf600, depending on the size, in Batsinda market.

Milk is between Rwf400 and Rwf600 per litre in most Kigali suburbs, and the cost of bread ranges from Rwf1,000 to Rwf2,000 (1kg), depending on the brand, location and whether one buys in supermarkets or neighbourhood shops. A half a kilo of bread is between Rwf400 and Rwf600.

Mangoes cost Rwf1,400 per kilo, a bar of laundry soap costs between Rwf450 and Rwf600 in most markets across the city, and sugar ranges between Rwf700 and Rwf800, while a five-litre jerrycan of vegetable cooking oil is at Rwf6,500.