BY RICHARD MULIISA

Dorothy Umurerwa, who runs a diary shop, says business has slumped due to general price increase of commodities in the country.
The only reminder of what used to be a busy business area is polythene paper scattered all over the place. The dust, raised by vehicles on the nearby road, has now settled firmly on the shelves.
Umurerwa is part of the city business community complaining that soaring cooking oil prices are kicking them out of business. And as a result, this has also triggered off price increase of other commodities.
A mini market survey carried out by The New Times indicates that five litre Jerican of Mukwano cooking oil from Uganda has risen from Frw800 to Frw900. While a 3 litre Jerican is now Frw2,400 from Frw2,000.
Other types of cooking oil including RENA is selling at Frw4,000 from Frw3,000. The 4 litre tin of USA cooking oil shot up to Frw3,200 in most places from Frw2,800.
Alfred Karori at Kimironko market said the prices of all imported food items have risen. He attributed the increasing prices of cooking oil to the scarcity of locally produced cooking oil. "Imported cooking oil is insufficient and expensive,” he said.
Some types of bread prices have increased to Frw350 from Frw300 previously. Besides mandazi consumers have to part with an extra Frw10, since the price has shot from Frw50 to Frw60. Chapatti, sambusa, and doughnut prices have equally increased.
Soap and curry powder have also registered a price increase. A bar of blue of star now goes for Frw350 up from Frw300. The prices of magi carry powder, has also risen from Frw500 to Frw600. A packet of macron is Frw600 up from Frw500.
When the department of trade in the Ministry of commerce (MINICOM) was recently contacted, it was not aware of commodity prices shooting high.
Sorwatom, a locally manufactured tomato sauce has for long been declared scarce on the market. This is in addition to milk, whose prices have risen from Frw300 to Frw400 per litre.
Rwanda Animal Resource Development Authority (RARDA) Director Theogene Rutagwenda attributed the increase of prices to market forces, where demand exceeded production.